The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-27

Z Naasaw Funeeal- Nlu<leai Instrument
% q Musical TraDe.

Dr.. Charles Hose. accompanied by Dr-
McDOugAll and Myers. members % the
Cambridge Archaeological Expedition,
set out for the NadanG country. hitherto
unexplOred district lying between the
headwatsrs Of the Batang -ksyan. Rsjane
and Baram rivers. and inhabited by the
Madangs a wsr'ise tribe OF Kenyahs vino
by constant raids had become the terror
0l all the surrounding country.
After q journey Through the most
picturesQus country No arrived At the
principal Madang village writes DR.. Hoss
I'm Frarei and Expioraffoa. This village.
which contained about 3.OO0 people. con-
slsie4l % nine long houses forming q circle
the c~ntrs Of which had been cleAred Of
ahruos and troes. For n considera ble
radius outside this ring the Jungle had besn
felled and the land was farmed On that
side which was moro or beNps bounded by
the river. The ssttlement. u was evident,
had been laid out on plan best calculated
TO resist attack. Ths MAdAngs came
a. M and the chief. lama taun TAsi. In
vtted me 20 taAe up my residence In his
house.
vet. but I thought Il ness 10 60 with him
AZ once and afterwArd congratulated my
self when I found that. according 90
custom. Tama Bulsn and his followers
being unable to enter the house until
all cases of blood money betwsen his
people and the MadAnas had bcen ssttiedD
we're Obliged 20 camp near the river for
one night The MadAn&s assisted In
INA king hut- Tor my followers, gave them
several ria- and sent down their women
laden wAh baskets full q rico. 90 no want
of hospitality could 10 said Ia mar our
recertion. In the evening ! took . walk
around the village. followed Ivy a crowd
of women and children who appeared
greatly pleased to lind that the white
4 man was able 60 converts with them.
just acruss the river from where ne
were sitting was the graveyard. and
there I witnessed q funeral procession an
! the day was drawing to q Close. Tia
: conn. which was a wooden box made
! fSom q tree trunk. was decorated with
rcd aud black patterns IN circles. With two
small wooden hgures % men placed at
either end: Il was lashed with rateans %
q long pole and by this means was lifted
ing lhirteen In ain. who thsn carried Il 70
sAftsr The mOuFnsap had ell paausd
over 60 the graveyard nan quickly cui
= coupie % small sttcha, snch about nvs
fsss long and about an inch In diameter.
0ns OF tlssse hs split almoee the whole
way down and forced tho unsplit end
into the ground. when the upper part
! opened like v. having sufiicient room
for each person 20 pas- through. He
placing another ahoFt stick In the cleft
made a cross which he also forced into
The funeral procession climbed the
mound on which the cemetery was stu
atsd. passing through the Of the clsr
stick In single AIe. A. soon IN the conn
had been placed on the stage erected for
the PURPOSE the people commenced their
return. following ons anotheg'a he~ls AZ
quickly az possible. each splitting out the
words. Pit bali KRAFT hall jat teatp her
tatip' CkseP bach. c,ose Out All things
the v shaped stick.
The whole party having lsft the grave
yard. the gate Was cloeed by the simple
process Of tying the cleft ends % the
silica togSthsT, and . few words were
then said To the cross stick which they
the living from the dad. All who had
taken part In the oeTemOny then went
and bathed before returning % their
homes. rubbing their skins with rough
pebbles.
people. With bright darn eyes and per
lecoy straight long black hair. They are
fairly tall Tor BorneO natives and very
muscular. clean and free from skin
diseases - common among Dayaks.
hAvoun ana Muf1~ lney are ener AeuC
and quick In their movements. splendid
boAtInen and able 20 travel long dis
tances in the jungle on foot without APP
parently becoming much fatigued.
-Thetr only garments consist Of co ats
and waistcoats made firm the barn ~
q tree known A. kum,It. which 10 beaten
out 70 a thin cloth with q wooden TnAllet.
The women also use this dark cloth for
their pstticoats and for the shAWls in
which they wrap their babies. They live
In much the same manner N other Ken
yah tribes IN long hOu<es holding thirty
o. nifty families IN each house Their
occupations include the cultivation OF
extensive padi farms Of which they plant
sufficient for their wants.
The MadanGs are a very musical race
and po-ssas many musical Instruments.
Among these Rre q sort % reed organ. a
banjo. gongs and drums. a bamboo
hmrp and a nose flute. The noee flute IN
an Instrument made Of bamboo on which
the perpon plays not In tho usual way with
the lips bsIt with his nose ! remember
nssing ON one occasion q man playing ON
this peculiar instrument surrounded by
an audience % about forty persons. He
ansuPed me that sometimes he Was able
10 move hi@ audience 90 tears