Year: 1861

aims, and valleys, in the channels of commerce
between China and the rest Of the world, half
way between that country and Australia and
crossed by the Equator. traveller would eX
pect to find many novelties. Three races form
the population of Borneo. The DyaclSs the
native race, are subject TO the Maays; and
the Chinese, who are found in great numbers,
minee with both in trade but retain their Ian
guage and habits and generally return home
after accumulating money.


The nature of the local government is such
as may well take a stranger by surprise-it
being popular and elective. The natives
Dyacks-choose their head men in every vii
lage; but in cases of dispute, and in trials of
all kinds, the last appeal is to their chiefs and
foreign rulers. the Malays. They often show
great interest in their local elections, but much
indifference TO the general affairs Of the coun-
try; and for very strong reason-they know
nothing about them, or little else beyond their
immediate neighborhoods. Seldom, indeed
do many of the common people leave home
they hold in great dread the dangers of travel
ing. For this there is too much reason, for the
Dyacks may be said in one sense to be ma
ton of murderers. OF all savage nations. it
would be difficult, and perhaps impossible to
find one, either now upon earth or mentioned
in history, to which this title might be truly
applied to so great an extent as to them
Their sword called creese, which is manufac-
tured by themselves, and is of such fine tenn
per that it will sever a gun barrel without
turning the edge in the least. is an object at
which man of humanity learns TO shudder
when he becomes acquainted with the manner
and frequency of its use. If you go to the
house of a Chief you cannot distinguish him
by any popularity of dress or show of wealth
in his habtaton. You will probably see a
heap Of human skulls near the door, which he
obtained with his own creese, or by the creeses
Of his ancestors and such shocking things
may have been the cause of his elevation to
his Office. Villages often form confedeFacies



of security is enjoyed by the people generally,
but conflicts OF a terrible nature are likely to
be waged with other combined populations
near them and expeditions, formed by small
parties, to avenge and retaliate, keep the
frontiers too often in a state of alarm and
the boldness which some of the native depera-
does display, in assailing their enemies, and
the terrible dexterity with which they cut off
human heads with their creeses, excite the adj
miration OF their friends, as much as they kin
died the deepest horror in me. The Dyacks
live destitute of domestic instruments and fur
niture Of all kinds, to an extent which is at
once surprising and unaccountable. They pos
sess not even single spade hoe, or other i'm
plement Of husbandry, and are ignorant of most
of the simplest principles Of agriculture. Their
soil, however affords scarcely anything but
rice, which is Of easy culture. If you enter
their habitations, you look in vain for a chair,
table, a utensil for cooking, or any other of
the simplest conveniences or necesaries of life


The Dyacks are small of stature, seldom ex-
ceeding five feet three inches in hight, but
strong and active Their costume is of the sim
plest and most meagre kind: they have litera'-
ly nothing to wear " worth speaking Of
The women wear their hair very long, and al
ways hanging down. They are fond of neck
laces Of beads, but prefer those ofhuman teeth,
when the teeth are presented by
lover who has torn them from the Jaws Of
heads stricken of by his creese. The Dyack
bellies affect prodigious brass earrings, and
cover their arms with brass bracelets, and
sometimes load their neither limbs with the
same ornaments In rare instances some for
nate fair one glories in the possession of orna-
ments of silver and gold, and still more rarely
drives her rivals frantic by display of dia
monds. The Dyack dandy disdains mineral
ornamentation, and conscientiously confning
his love of fnery within the resources Of the |
human body, constructs his necklaces of the |
dried noses and ears of his enemies, occasion-
ally heightening their stunning effect by the
addition Of a few curiously preserved eye balls


THE OLD OAKEN BUCKEr.-The following
reminescence Of Samuel Woodwork possesses
sufficient interest, we think, to warrant US in |
presenting it to our readers. 1t is a portion
of private letter recently received from one
whose authority in the matter cannot be ques-
toned


In reference to the period of the production