G M^c. Culloch, lith. Day & Son, Lith^{rs}. to the Queen Published by Smith, Elder & C^o 65, Cornhill, London. THE LAND DAYAKS.] CHAPTER IV. THE LAND DAYAKS. Visit to the Left-hand Branch of the Sarawak River--Attack of Peguans--Sarawak River--Capture of English Ship--The Durian Fruit--Iron-wood Posts--Rapids--Rapid of the Corpse--Mountains--Village of San Pro--Lovely Scenery--Head-house--Cave--Upper Cave--Unfortunate Boast--Pushing up the Rapids--Story of the Datu Tamanggong--Invulnerable Men--How to become one--Grung Landing-place--Sibungoh Dayaks--Dayak Canoes--Lovely Scenery--Uses of the Bambu--Fish--Sharks in the Upper Waters--Repartee--Pigs Swimming--Farmhouses in Trees--Floods--Suspension Bridges--Chinese Traders--Dress of Land Dayaks--System of Forced Trade--Interesting Tribe--Story of the Murder of Pa Mua--The Trial--Painful Scene--Delightful Bathing--Passing the Rapids--Walk to Grung--Dayak Paths--Village of Grung--Warm Reception--Ceremonies--Lingua Franca--Peculiar Medicine--Prayer--Sacred Dance--Sprinkling Blood--Effect of former System of Government--Language. I had already made many visits among the Dayaks, but had never penetrated to the interior waters of the Sarawak river. I was, therefore, quite ready to accept Captain Brooke’s invitation to accompany him on the tour of inspection he was about to make among the Land Dayaks of the left-hand branch of the Sarawak. As the stream is full of rapids, our crew was selected of Sarawak men, well acquainted with the peculiar navigation. I may here remark that there is something characteristic about the true Sarawak man: his look is eminently respectable, his face is longer and more marked than that of the other Malays, his complexion often darker, his manners quiet and respectful. There is a tradition current in this country, that once upon a time, the capital of Sarawak was at Santubong, the western entrance of the river; that during the absence of the men on an expedition up the country, some marauding Peguans arrived there in their ships, and on finding the defenceless state of the town attacked it, carried it by assault, and made off with their spoils and innumerable female prisoners. The Sarawak men fortunately returned a few hours after, and instantly gave chase. Their fast war boats soon overtook the clumsy Pegu ships. They made short work of it: killed the marauding chiefs and brought back the rest prisoners to Santubong. The Samarahan and some of the Sarawak men are said to be descended from them, and this, if true, may account for the darker complexion.