Palisadian., 1925-06-19
NATIVE PRIESTS WAR
ON HEAD-HUMTING
Help Discourage Savage
Custom in Borneo.

Washington-In discouraging the
savage custom of head-hunting in
of the country now have the powerful
cooperation of native priests or
medicine men," according to a late
report, which states that at an assem-
bly, of thousands of the natives, or
Dyaks, terrible curse was pro-
nounced by the head priest on all who
revive tribal quarrels.
"The curious custom Of head-hunt-
ing has been in existence in many of
the islands of the East Indies for
ages" says a bulletin from the Wash
ington headquarters of the National
Geographic society. s'It Is not con-
fined to any one people, but is prac-
ticed by the Dyaks in Borneo, other
Malays in the smaller islands, and by
the Negroid Melanesians in New
Guinea. Human heads are the most
highly priced possessions of the head
hunters, and the women of the tribes
help to perpetuate the custom by ia
voring the young men who collect the
most grim trophies. Not only are the
heads of enemies obtained in major
warfare, but the young braves Of one
village will often attack a neighboring
village merely for the purpose Of OBJ
tanning heads. The heads are pre-
served and dried and hung over the
owners fireplace, the collections be-
ing handed down from father to son.
Head-Hunters Become Farmers.
"Under British and Dutch rule
many of the Dyaks of Borneo have be-
come peaceable farmers. This Is es-
pecially true along the coasts and near
the navigable rivers. But from time
to time the more savage natives of the
interior revert to head-hunting, and
they have found the semi-civiliZed ag-
ricultural natives a source for heads.
1t is to protect this farming people
and to extend civilization more wide
ly through the island that the aid of
the medicine men has been enlisted.
'The Dyaks live in long houses
each of which shelters many families
and is in effect village in itself
these structures, raised 80 or 40 feet
in the air, extend for several hun
dred feet From the ridge-poles the
thatched roof sweeps down at a steep
angle to within six or eight feet Of the
ground. This is the floor level, the
houses being constructed on a plat
form supported by piles. Outside the
roof Is an open veranda, an uncovered
extension of the floor platform. I'm
der the roof on one side of the center
is an enclosed veranda extending the
full length of the communal house. On
the other side of the center the space
is divided by partitions into rooms for
the various families. In the enclosed
veranda, outside the rooms, are the
individual fireplaces over which the
treasured head racks are placed.
1.-The Dyak men are smaller than
the average Westerner, well proper
toned, and of a type adapted for ac-
tivity, speed and endurance, which are
valuable qualities in jungle inhab-
itants. The women affect queer
method of adornment, wrapping them
selves in brass corsets made of numer-
Gus hoops of cane covered with brass
rings. These metal garments cover
their bodies from just below the arm
pits to the hipline, and even below.
Heavy necklaces and ear pendants are
also worn, and the costume is COM
pleted by length of cloth folded
around to form short skirt.
"Borneo is the second largest island
in the world outside the Polar regions,
having an area of about 100000 square
miles-approximate that of Texas
and West Virginia combined. OF this
area the Netherlands owns more than
100000 square miles; the remainder is
controlled by Great Britain under
three Jurisdictions, British North Bor-
neo, Brunei Cor Borneo) and Sarawak
The latter has romantic history For
three generations it has been ruled by
white rajahs,' members of a British
family named Brooks, who are the
hereditary rajahs.
One Of Worlds Biggest Islands
"Borneo is almost completely Gov
cred by a thick blanket of tropical
verdure: valleys, hills and mountains
alike. The density of the tangled mass
of vegetation is equaled, probably,
only in parts of the valley of the ANA
zon. Enormous forest trees grow close
together, their tops interlaclng and
shutting out the sunlight. Smaller
trees push far up, fighting for a place
in the sun, while vines wrap them
selves about the trunks and ferns fill
the remaining space. The observer
from the ground sees little but somber
green's and browns. The color, chief
ly orchids and other parasitic plants,
is far above, topping the sea Of foli-
age.
"Where clearings have been made
Borneo's soil is highly productive. Cof-
fee, cotton, rice, sugar cane, tobacco
and numerous fruits are among the
cultivated crops, while forest and
orchard products include rubber, gutta
percha, spices, camphor, nuts and
sago. Rich deposits of valuable me-
tallic ores, minerals, petroleum and
precious stones have hardly been
scratched.
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