Indian Antiquary Vol 49

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 125

JULY, 1820)
EPISODES OF PIRACY IN THE EASTERN BEAB
121
immense loss of life on our side; for very small party, armed with rifles and stationed in the jungle opposite each boom, could have picked off overy European whilst removing the trees and without the loss of a man on their side.
"During the absence of the boats, numbers of the pirates who had escaped in the action but were not aware of our still occupying the river, were out off by the Dyak boats in attempting to ascend the Serebus, mad I then had an opportunity of witnessing the operation of preserving the heads. The Dyaks, having killed their enemy, immediately cut off his head with a fiendish yell; they then'scoop out the brains and suspend the head from a rod of bamboo.... They then light a slow fire underneath, and the smoke escends through the neck and penetrates the head, thoroughly drying the interior. It is then placed in a basket of very open work and carried suspended from the belt of the captor-more highly prized than ornaments of gold or precious stones. On one occasion I saw five heads on a platform, undergoing the operation, and within two feet of it the Dyaks were coolly cooking some wild boar chops for their dinner and inhaling the mingled perfume of baked human and hog's flesh.
“We now proceeded up the River Rejang, the finest and most interesting of the rivers of the north-eastern coast of Borneo. One glance at the town (either Sáriki or Sibal speaks volumes as to the state of this unhappy country and proclaims the lawless character of one party and the insecurity of the other. The houses inhabited by the Milanos [Milanau, Malanau), a raoo distinct from the Malay and Dyak, are of immense length, some of them containing 300 people. They are erected on pillars of wood, about 30 feet in height, and are only approachable by ladders, which can be drawn up on the appearance of an enemy: each thus forms in iteelf a perfect fortrous. An immenso gallery, protooted by a musket proof breastwork, runs the entire length of the building; this is wood as the common sitting room, and here are oollooted offensive and defensive weapons of all sorte-brass guns, rifles, spears, shields, paraags, sumpitens, stones &o. and they also pour boiling water and oil on the heads of masailants. I was informed that on the erection of one of these houses, a deep hole was sunk for the corner pillar, and in this w we place a bottle containing a coin and engraved inscription) they, horresco referens, lowered an unfortunato girl, docked out in all her finery, and then dropped the enormous post on her head, crushing her to stoms, and yet they are now & fine, intelligent race and cordially unite with the Rajah for the suppresson of piracy.
"Having obtained afficient supply of fire-wood we prooooded up the River Rojang to the Kenowit, up which river the boats advanood about forty miles, and, surprising the enemy, plunderod and destroyed the villages and took several prisoners. The boats having returned, we pressed on to the town of Kenowit [on the Rejang river), on the inhabitants of which the Rajah imposed a heavy fine, with a threat of visiting them with his heaviest displeasure in the event of their violating the pledge they now gave to abandon their piratical babits. All prisoners were roloured with instructions to inform their respective tribes not only that the Rajah had no wish to injuro them, but that he would most willingly afford them all the protection in his power if they would only abandon piracy and live at peace with their neighbours.
"We returned to Sarawak on the 24th August, well pleased with the extraordinary success of our expedition. We had destroyed the most powerful piration tribe on the Coast
Parang, sumpitan, Malay terme indicating a largo heavy sheath-knife and a blow fan made from . hollow one from which poisoned arrows are shok-ED.