Gompul, The Most Reliable Of My Malays In That Region, And One Of The First To Arrive In Those Parts, Told Me That His Mother Had Been Captured By The Penyahbongs And Kept By Them For Thirty-Five Years, Until Her Death.

According to his estimate there were over two hundred of them in the Muller mountains, and they had killed many Malays, taking their heads.

Three chiefs were famous for being very tall.

Fishing with tuba is known to them, also to the nomadic Punans and Bukats, Saputans, and Penihings. The Penyahbongs believe they were placed in this world by an antoh. Omens are taken from nine birds and from dreams. When a house is finished there are two or three hours' dancing in the night by men and women, one man playing the sapi (native guitar).

The child is born outside of the house. One or two women stand by to take it, wrapped in cloth, into the dwelling, where for three days it remains unbathed. Although death at childbirth is known to occur, usually within fifteen minutes the mother rises and repairs to the house. The umbilical cord is cut with a sharp bamboo and the afterbirth is not taken care of, dogs generally being permitted to eat it. When the child can walk the father and mother give it a name. No abortion is practised, there are no puberty ceremonies, and sexual intercourse is not practised during menstruation.

SAPUTANS

(Notes from the Kasao River, a tributary to the Upper Mahakam)

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