New-York tribune., 1841-04-12
From the Ncw-Yo.k Mirror.
TIE DYAKS IN THE ISLAND OF BORNEO.

From the New-iosh hirror'
THE DYAKS IN THE ISLAND OF BoRNEo.
BoRyro is the third argcs, island in the word-tis en-
bosocd in great cluster islands surrounded by 80
sht in v land that their waters smooth those of
lake Is western scarcely days sail from Singa-
pore which becoming the great mart for trade between
India the Western World and China Ihe Dutch have sew
eral small establishments upon the coast.
The population OF the island which is estimated at $500
600 is composed various tribes Some Malays others
Bugs-both OF these Mahomedans-n partially civ-
lzed state and engaged in trade although the Naays eSpe-
talv greatly prefer piracy Apcopc called Dyaks,
whose numbers are supposed be about 2000000 occupy
c whole Interior oc the island which chiefly rcsainous,
and are original Inhabitants They are still savags Some
of their tribes however, barbarous than others
These about ike wild beasts al night they sleep under
some large tree branches of which hang low ey are
looked upon and treated by the other Dyaks as Wild beasts
They 20 out and hunt them for amusement The men taken
in these ncursions invariably killed but the women II
Young are commonly spared. The children OF these Wild
Dvaks is said be tanned In consequence when
taken they have Of their feet OFT by their captors
that ay may away to their native forests their SER
vices being sti available for padding in their &c
Many of the Dyaks engaged IN agriculture and collect
ing the produce Of their country such campho beeswax
go-us; etc sale But the occupation for which they
are most notorious that of heaahung The men must
procure at least head before they marry Gay pre-
heads and skulls of they have san
trophies and ornaments They seek for heads T., would
seek wealth honor and these constitute their weas and
honor The Dyak headhuner cherishes enmtJ toward
the he kills. either private national 1t IL nelther
more less than wretched custom, ot the many ct
similar kind that exists countries where Saanhe de-
strovcr-regns supreme This custom, and the feelings OF
the heart necessarily connected with form the odious
trait peoples character They have, however, many
good qualities They generally inclined cultivate the SOIL
are fnc of people, and vcr honest. Their vices are
those of barbaras who know better Some OF TIE leading
natives have already expressed their readiness reiEqun5
the practice of heud-hunng Europeans would only and
settle among them They generally pave religious
belief At all they have religion 70 which they
strongly attached which of course is favorable crcuni-
stance toward their reception OF the true religion
Scarcely efforts have yet been made TO introduce Chs
,anty among these people The Americans we have
said now turning their attention the island. From the
Journal the missionaries who have recently returned
from tour in the country make the following
At village, they observe, The Dyaks here still con-
nue the practice of cutting of heads and Toast of bringing
three fresh every In the verandah where
have lodgings there fifteen twenty, and some
suspended Immediately the place assigned to sleep
How heads their enrn,
but told they numerous or TO Use their own Ian
guagc tens. Here may remark that the Dyaks,
in general appear know nothing of numbers above en
hence they give their cck0nings in this way he wari
OF this village sally forth every year beheadng eX
pcdition Thcv have the least conjunction OF
conscience on this subject. They laugh when ex
press astonhmen the practice, and rdcue us when
attempt teach them its cruelty and wickedness IL
does appear that the Dyak character mude up o extremes
As we see them they are mild and gentle, and giyea
hospitality But when they exchange their domestic hab,
for those of the warrior their greatest delight b
revel in human blood and their greatest honor to ornamen
their dwellings with human heads, which the trophies
their inhuman barbaty. Shocking may appear the
carry about with them tokens of the number of they
have killed This they effect by inserting locks OF human
hair pondng the number OF persons decapatcd in
the sheath their warkne which they always carry with
them when from home. We fell in with this evening,
,.t returning from his labor, with basket in which he had
carried out the necesare for the day and which
tached lock of human hair The hair inches
foot long. He informed US that token OF his having
off head during the past year How that these
dark places of the earth full of the Indications cuety
Upon another occasion, writer remarks:
Here discovered the first indication OF religion among
the Dyaks Upon arrival the first thing which attracted
attention several small wooden images placed under
a shelter. Upon inquiry were informed That these images
are rneentoes of their old men who had distinguished them
selves by daring exploits the aumber of heads aey had cut
off etc. Whenever such persons die they make wooden
image, rude indeed yet in the form OF man varying ID
length from twenty inches three feet Around this they all
gather and hold feast of conservation, after which
placed the Others These are consercd patron goc
whose peculiar province is watch and prosper tn.
cultivation Of rice. At the time Of planting the rice they
removed to or near the field with their faces N that dire
on Here they left I'LL the crop is gathered when TN
are again brought their dwellings. As far a We cou
learn the ONLY of worship paid these images that OF
Offering them food month such as rice pork fowls etc
Human heads hang all around and suspended
oyer our We tried har 10 obtain ot the
heads but the bare expression OF the wish met by
prompt and decisive No part with them The
same was the case with the wooden images. On no condition
whatever would they consent 10 part with either lhe only
reason assigned that sickness would be the inevitable
The heads considered charms to ward of
evils procure blessings and believing this IT no matter
of surprise that they 10th to part with them
The of the above journal spent about our weeks
on the island during which they travelled one hundred
ard seventy miles foot going about sixty nles INTO the
interior The general impression produced on their minds
by what they Observed during their visit was o SO favorable
SION - Pence ,t once and to establish three stations
r American mis- sonaries and their wives expeed TO
proceed from Singapore the island during last summer
Mas Asp WoxAs.-Men are like horse-beens the out
ID a. GOOD for nothing but with good boiling they make
nonr;.bing dish women are like the delicate sh
bean in Which bean and pod nsids and outside AZ aa
excellent.