The vegetation of Borneo is rich and varied. By the seashore and at the mouths of the rivers there grows the _nipa_ palm, “the tree of a thousand uses.” The young leaves are used for making _kadjangs_, the awnings with which Dyak boats are covered. The old leaves are made into _attap_ for the roofs and walls of their houses. From the blossom a sweet drink is obtained, and this is converted into sugar. From the ashes of the burnt stump of this palm salt is obtained. As one travels up a Bornean river the _nipa_ palms become less and less plentiful, and one finds the banks covered with mangroves. These trees thrive on the muddy banks. A network of roots grows out of the stem several feet above the soil, and keeps them firm. At night these mangroves are lit up by myriads of fireflies. The missionary stationed at Banting many years ago had all the mangrove-trees, except one on each side of his landing-place, cut down, and on the darkest night there was no difficulty in knowing where his boat was to stop. These two trees, covered with fireflies, were not to be mistaken in the surrounding darkness. In Borneo there are many varieties of palms. There is the _nibong_ palm, the trunk of which is often used for the posts of native houses. When split up, it is used for the flooring. There is the _sago_ palm, from the pith of the trunk of which sago is obtained. There are the cocoanut and betel-nut palms, and lastly a useful climbing palm—the cane, or _rotan_—which is exported in great quantities and used for the seats of chairs. There are many kinds of useful woods to be found in the Bornean jungles. There is the _bilian_, or iron-wood, which is so valuable for building purposes, as it is practically indestructible. It will not rot in earth or water, and it is the only wood that the white ants cannot destroy. There are also many other hard woods used for the building of houses and the making of keels for boats. The ebony-tree is to be found in Borneo. The ebony is the heart of the tree, the rest of the wood being of a light colour. The camphor-tree is also found, as well as various trees which produce gutta and rubber of different sorts. There are many fruit-trees, but the fruit most loved by the Dyaks is the _durian_. This grows on a large tree, and is about the size of a man’s head. When ripe, it is easily split open, and in it are pods in which are rows of seeds covered with a sweet pulp. CHAPTER XII OMENS AND DREAMS Seven omen birds—Other omen animals—Omens sought before beginning rice-farming—House-building omens—Substitutions for omens—Good and bad omens in farming—A dead animal—Means of avoiding bad effects—Omens obeyed at all times—Bird flying through a house—A drop of blood—Killing an omen bird or insect—Origin of the system of omens—Augury—Dreams.