They practise various ordeals; among others, two pieces of native salt, of equal weight, are placed in water; that appertaining to the guilty party melts immediately; the other, they affirm, keeps its form; but, in fact, the one that disappears first proves the owner to be in the wrong. Another is with two land shells, which are put on a plate and lime-juice squeezed upon them, and the one that moves first shows the guilt or innocence of the owner, according as they have settled previously whether motion or rest is to prove the case. They talk of another, where the hand is dipped into boiling water or oil, and innocence is proved by no injury resulting. The favourite ordeal, however, is the dipping the head under water, and the first who puts up his face to breathe loses the case. I need only observe, concerning their language, that the Sibuyaus, the Balaus, the Undups, the Batang Lupars, the Sakarangs, Seribas, and those inhabitants of the Rejang living on the Kanowit and Katibas branches, all speak the same language, with no greater modifications than exist between the English spoken in London and Somersetshire. They are, in fact, but divisions of the same tribe; and the differences that are gradually growing up between them principally arise from those who frequent the towns and engage in trade, using much Malay in their conversations, and allowing their own words to fall into disuse. The agricultural inhabitants of the farther interior are much more slowly influenced. CHAPTER III. THE KAYANS OF BARAM. Unaccountable Panic--Man Overboard--Fishing--Coast Scenery--Baram Point--Floating Drift--Pretty Coast to Labuan--Thunder and Lightning Bay--Bar of the Brunei--River Scenery--The Capital--Little Children in Canoes--Floating Market--Kayan Attack--The Present Sultan’s Story--Fire-arms--Devastation of the Interior--Customs of the Kayans--Upas Tree--View of the Capital--The Fountains--The Baram--Kayan Stratagem--Wild Cattle--Banks of the River--Gading Hill--Ivory--Elephants on North-east Coast--Hunting--Startling Appearance--Town of Langusin--Salutes--First Interview--Graves--Wandering Kanowits--Appearance of the Kayans--Visit Singauding--Religion--Houses--Huge Slabs--Skulls--Women tatooed--Mats--Visit the Chiefs--Drinking Chorus--Extempore Song--Head-hunting--Effect of Spirits--Sacrifice--Ceremony of Brotherhood--Effect of Newly-cleared Jungle--War Dance--Firewood--Customs--Origin of Baram Kayans--Vocabulary--Trade--Birds’ Nests--Destruction of Wealth--Manners and Customs--Iron--Visit Edible Birds’ Nest Caves--The Caves--Narrow Escape--Two Kinds of Swallows--Neat House--Visit of Singauding--Visit to Si Obong--Her Dress--Hip-lace--Her Employments--Farewell Visit--Fireworks--Smelting Iron--Accident--Departure--Kayans Cannibals--Anecdotes--Former Method of Trading--Unwelcome Visitors.