Seventeen Years Among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo: A Record of Intimate Association with the Natives of the Bornean JunglesGomes, Edwin Herbert
History
Seventeen Years Among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo: A Record of Intimate Association with the Natives of the Bornean Jungles
Gomes, Edwin Herbert
Iban (Bornean people); Sarawak (Malaysia) -- Description and travel
That these melancholy forebodings may never be fulfilled must be the
earnest wish of all who have in some way or other come into contact with
the Sea Dyak—a warm-hearted, hospitable, cheery figure, satisfied with
little, living in the present, with no thought of the future, quite
content if he have food to eat and tobacco to smoke, and yet, for this
very reason, because he is so satisfied with his lot, most unwilling to
admit new ideas, seemingly for ever unconscious of the significance of
his life, and ignorant of the infinite possibilities for good or evil
which exist in him.
FOOTNOTES
[1] “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground” (Gen. ii. 7).
In this respect Dyak tradition corresponds with the Biblical account.
[2] Rice in the husk.
[3] _Pinang_, betel-nut.
[4] _Sireh_, a kind of pepper-leaf which the Dyaks are fond of eating
with betel-nut.
[5] The Dyaks are fond of rhyming names, which often have no special
meaning.
GLOSSARY OF DYAK WORDS AND PHRASES
WHICH OCCUR IN THE FOREGOING PAGES
A
=Achar=, a spoon-bait.
=Akal plandok=, the cunning of the _plandok_ or mouse-deer.
=Anggat=, a term of endearment used in addressing a boy.
=Antu=, a spirit; the dead.
=Ari ni nuan?= “From whence are you (come)?” A form of greeting.
=Attap=, a leaf roof made from the leaves of the _nipa_ palm.
B
=Baiya=, goods put aside upon the owner’s death and placed upon or within
his grave.
=Banghong=, a Dyak boat.
=Baru=, a tree with fibrous bark.
=Batu=, a stone.
=Batu bintang=, “star stone.”
=Batu ilau=, “stone of light.”
=Batu krang jiranau=, the petrified section of _jiranau_ (Zingeberad?).
=Batu krat ikan sembilan=, the petrified section of the _sembilan_ fish.
=Batu kudi=, “stones of wrath.”
=Batu lintar=, thunderbolt.
=Batu nitar=, thunderbolt.
=Bebaju besi=, “wearing an iron coat.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Bebandong api=, “displaying fire.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Bebayak=, making a _bayak_ or iguana. Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Beburong raia=, “making or acting the adjutant bird.” Name of a _manang_
ceremony.
=Begiling lantai=, “rolled up in the flooring.” Name of a _manang_
ceremony.
=Bekliti=, opening. One of the ceremonies of initiation of a _manang_, or
witch-doctor.
=Belelang=, to wander about; to visit a far country.
=Benih=, seed.
=Bepancha=, “making a _pancha_, or swing.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Beremaung=, “acting the tiger.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Berencha=, “making an assault.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Berua=, “swinging.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Besi=, iron.
=Besudi=, “feeling or touching.” One of the ceremonies of initiation of
_manang_, or witch-doctor.
=Betanam pentik=, “planting a _pentik_, or wooden representation of a
man.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Betepas=, “sweeping.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
=Betiang garong=, “making a post for souls.” Name of a _manang_ ceremony.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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