A cut is made in the praeputium
lengthwise with a knife (further east a sharpened bamboo is used), a piece
of iron wood being used as a support, and the operation which in Katingan
is called habalak is performed by the father of the father's brother when
the boy is coming of age. Before the event he must go into the river up to
his navel seven days in succession, morning, midday, and evening, and
stand in the water for an hour. All boys must undergo the operation, which
is not sanguinary, the leaves of a tree called mentawa being applied to
the wound. They could give no reason why they follow this practice any
more than the ordinary Dayak can explain the purpose of tatuing.
With the Kayans, and, indeed, all the tribes I met in Dutch Borneo, it is
the custom to urinate in a sitting position.
To the observer it is strikingly evident that the mammae of both Dayak and
Malay women retain firmness and shape much longer than is the case with
white women.
A SHORT GLOSSARY
adat, precept, regulation, religious observance.
antoh, spirit, good or evil.
atap, a shelter, consisting of a mat resting on upright saplings,
often erected in the boats on long journeys.
babi, pig.
badak, rhinoceros.
balei, a general name for a house of worship.
barang, goods, things, belongings.
blanga, large, valuable jar, usually of Chinese manufacture.
blian, priest-doctor.
bom, custom-house.
brua, soul.
chavat, loin-cloth.
company (the), the government.
cranyang, basket.
damar, resin.
gutshi, large jar.
inlander, native.
ipoh, poison for the dart of the blowpipe, also the tree from
which it is secured (the upas tree).
kali, river.
kampong, native village.
kapala, chief (= pumbakal).
kidyang, a small kind of deer.
kiham, rapids.
kuala, mouth of a river.
ladang, paddi field.
laki, man, male.
lombok, red pepper.
mandau, Dayak short sword (= parang).
mandur, overseer.
nagah, fabulous animal, the apparition of a spirit.
onder, native subdistrict chief.
orang, man.
paddi, rice.
parang, Dayak short sword (= mandau).
pasang-grahan, public lodging-house.
pisau, small knife.
plandok, mouse-deer (tragulus).
prahu, native boat.
pumbakal, chief (= kapala).
raja, a native chief, or noble.
raja besar, big raja.
ringit, the Dutch coin of f. 2.50.
rupia, florin, guilder.
rusa, deer.
sambir, mat made from palm leaves.
sarong, a cloth wound around the loins.
sayur, vegetable stew.
sumpitan, blowpipe.
takut, timid.
ticcar, mat made from rattan.
tin, five-gallon tin can.
tingang, great hornbill.
tingeling, scaly ant-eater.
tuak, native rice brandy.
tuan, master, lord.
tuan besar, great master or lord.
tuba, root used for poisoning the water for fishing purposes.
