Polynesian., 1861-08-10
iContinuedI

DiscOwses delirered By Mr.. WALTER MURRAY GIBSON,
IN the Fort Street Church, Honolulu H. l.
lCOntinuedI
This dominant Malay, these wandering, aggressive,
governing Vikings of Ausra Seas are associated WITH
and here and there partially blended WITH striking d
verstes of race. In contrast with the tall central Su
matrans of Menangkabau, we find the black dwarfs of
the IampOng country, which is the Southern end of
the island. They will average little over five feet,
whilst those of the master seldom measure below
six feet approach within half an inch of this stature
and yet observed that was generally overtopped by
Northern and Central Sumatrans. Again, in girth
and build of body, there notable differences as seen
in the Battaks, northwest of Menangkabau. These
have broader chests and faces less elongated than their
rowing Malay neghbors Besides these and other dis
tnct peoples who have sem-civilized culture and
are contrasts to the master Malay stock we find the
extreme of diversity in aboriginal STOCK black or dark
brown, hairy, naked, hOuseless and as utterly unamed
the babOons orangs and other cotenants of the
jungle. Sumatrs presents all the varieties of Asiatc
civilization and savagery 1t presents the invention of
letters and ettered culture of Brahminsm it presents
the cOurtlness Of Persia the religious fnaticism and
dominance of the Arab the military ferocity of the
Tartar the trading enterprise of the Chinese and in
contrast with all this the wild savagery of the Putooa
of the Himalaya-nay, it is savagery lower than any
Of Dahomey Bechuana There is in Sumatra all the
contrast between richly ornamented dwelling lacquer
ed vanished and inlad with precious things with in
mates robed in silks, fine muslns, gems and exquisite
flagree of gold; and the other hand, at the other
end of the scale of human condition wild beasts lair
of leaves the lodging of Kubu, and other unamed hu
manity, on this great island.
When we pass to the still greater island of Borneo,
find still more novelty in human variety. We find
the slender and alert Malay as prince and noble, at
Bruno, at Banyar Massing, at Sambas, Pontiansk,
and at all chief points commanding this insular CONT
nent. Under his sway is the light brown, thick set
Dayak Of the cruelest, and yet one of the most
promising of savages. The Dayak has not invented
any aphabes several peoples of Sumara have done;
he has no written account of anything no decorated
mansion no costly array he is a strong, brave
age, like Ksfir, Feejee. and terrible to shed
blood. The man of Borneo tolls and hunts, not for
plunder fame, but simply for blood and human heads
lodge full of smoked human heads is true Dayaks
chief desire He says the souls that animated the heads
will be his willing and faithful slaves in the heaven of
the Dayak imagination They will also be slaves to
those he loves and hence CORY head is Dayaks
choicest bridal gift Such bijou is ever irresistible
with Dayak maiden, and will her to refuse the
attentions of youth with hands yet unstaned with his
fellow mortas hearts blood. The Dayak hunts for his
celestial slaves among weaker and still wilder tribes of
the interior of the great island, but mostly among the
poor, timd people of the neghbOrng islets Now the
Dayak will try to convince you that there is salvation
in being beheaded and enter with him his paradise.
He will thus decapitate his poor neghbor for love, for
the neighbOrs good, to help people to paradise and
hence the Bornean butchery is all for the sake of the
Bornean heaven. With some change in his theology,
the Bornean zeal and energy. and utter dsinerested
in matter of earthly gan could be cultured up to
a high point of civilization The Dayak does not love
for wars sake, like the Malay Next to head hunt
ing he loves to exercise his mechanical Skill and it is
great. He is the best mechanic of Malaysia The Day
ak makes surprising cutlery. and he has the best iron
in the world the most strongly magnetic, for the pur
pose. The Bornean swords acquiring worldwide
fame. They have temper keener than the famous
blades of Damascus and Toledo. I have seen, have
handled a cutlass of Dayak make that would chop up
quarter inch iron bar like rattan and it is common
test to strike Dayak dirk point not only through one,
but through three silver dollars at Cnce, without in
either case edge point being turned Many of these
trenchant blades in the hands of British officers in
at Inkerman and Balaclava; and it has been OBJ
served by recent authorities that Dayak sword blades
for the use of European officers have become notice.
able article of export from Singapore The Dayak is
fabrcator of other things-of nicely adjusted for
the body Of the curious sumpit blow gun for small
game of marvellous urns, that alleged to utter
oraculsr sounds and other things show his mechanical
turn. He shows aptitude for quick improvement. Sir
James Brook, the Rajah of Serawak, commends the
bloody Bornean for his dociIity and teachabty and
thinks that he will surpass the New Zeaander in de-
veopment so that by and by it is expected, the Day
ak will manufacture the planes and steam engines Of
Malaysia and at the time very likely be the most
jealous new light propogsndist Of Oceanica.
Quite another variety offered in Celebes See what
curious group of peninsulas it is, with coast line
longer than that of the late United States and Territories
Crawford says that it has coast line exceeding three
thousand miles, and what an interesting variety Of hu
maniy this line incloses The Wuees, the chief race.
darker and stouer than the Malsys the merchants
of Maaysia-a veritable mercantile republic, ike the
old commercial italian States Their prahus issue from
an interior lake. Labays, descend the Chnrsna river,
and 90 forth ransac every coast Of the Archipelago
for pearls birds of paradise feathers, trpang tortoise
SHE'LL sandal wood, nutmegs, cloves. massey, eards-
NUNS, ivory, gold, silver. apes, rare birds-sn the
wonderful variety of this most SURPRISING region of rare
products to carry them to European empOra in India,
to exchange for the manufactures of Europe and Amer
ca which by these enterprising Wuees (or Bughs as
called by Europeans,) distributed among the isles