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b< AK4 OF jBQUMEOT
Borneo is the. largest inland in the
trorld. It emfoaces on am equal
Inextel* to alt the states in our Union
north of Georgia nnd east of the Alle
ghany mountains. This immense
country has seldom been visited by
Europeans, in consequence of the
savage and ferocious character of
the inhabitants, who have been in the
habit of murdering, with discrimina
tion, all of every nation that have
fallen into their hands. A few years
since, however, an Englishman by
the name of Dalton, happened to land
upon the island, under circumstances
which enabled him to secure the
confidence of one of the principal
chiefs, with whom he remained for
fifteen months, and during this period
accompanied him in his expeditions,
and acquired much valuable informa
tion respecting the country and its
inhabitants. We are indebted to
ihe Reverend Mr. Abcel, the
American Missionary, now resi
ding in that part of the world, for
the following nccount of the people
of the island, taken from Mr. Dal
ton's Journal. It will he read with,
deep interest. We know of no peo
ple on earth who bear so strong a re
semblance to demons in human shape.
N. F. Observer.
“Amongst the various faces of peo
ple inhabiting these islands, the Di
nks are the most peculiar, and cer
tainly by fan the most numerous of
the wholc< They cover the whole
island of Borneo, with a considerable
portion of the Celebes. Their tribes
*re-innumerable. Borneo is in e\’ery
part intersected with rivers of great
er or less magnitude, and every river
hat a distinct people who will associ
ate with no other, but wage continual
war with all. The mouths of the
rivers are the scenes of unceaseng
warfare, as they always lay in am
bush about these parts in hope9 of
surprising ‘individuals who may be
found fishing or straying too far from
the Campongs, (settlements) vvnere
they may be cut off without notice, or
alarm. Every river lias a Rajah, and
a large one several. In particular
parts, many of the^e Chiefs are united
under one great Rajah, the better to
cons did .tic their strength, and ensure
protection by mutual support.
Warlike character of the people.
The Rajah of the country of Wan-
hoi has seventy chiefs under him, all
of whom are likewise called Rajabsr
Sedgen has fifty, whilst Selgie has
more than one hundred and fifty.—
The latter chief is by far the most
powerful in this part of liorneo. lie
possesses an immense extent of coun
try, over which he exercises the
most despotic control. Selgie cal
culates the people under his sway, at
150,000. They are under strict
c tnrnand, and divided into three
ohsses, oner of which doe9 nothing but
fabricate arms, such as mandows,
spears, shields, sump'ts and darts;
another attends to the culture of pad
dy, making war dresses, and articles
of.ornameat for the women; the third
is composed of fhe finest man, select
ed fur war. These last are marked
iwa particular manner, and have great
privilege! over all (Others. Selgie has
seventeen wives, all daughters of Ra
jas , he is himself one of the- largest
and best proportioned men-('.ever saw
—his age may be fifty-three. He
has several* sons all Rajahs. They
.appear made for war, and delight in
jr(thing else.
Midi of conducting- their tear expedi
tions.
The perseverance of the Diaks du
ring an expedition, is wonderful.—
They generally get information of
distant campougs, from the wopsen
prisoners (no man ever escapes to tell
the tale,) who fOoe, become attached
to the conquerors. In proceeding to
wards a distant campopg, the canoes
are never, sees on, the river during
the day time; they invariably com
moner their journey about half an
hour after dark* when, they pull
rapidly and Silently up rs,vcr close
to ffee bank. One boat kepps iitime-
dfatfy bohind smother, a»d the ban-
die* hf the. paddles urn covered with
(fee Mfi bark,of,* tree, so that no
fob* wiutfew, Js.ifiado., (In Sel-
gw Visit expedition, fo i V *» forty-oue
day* feeler#* tmupoof
cd; although several cai
fit in the river, owing I*
—#f Setgie's
abont half an hour before day-light,
they puli the boats up upon the banks,
amongst the jungle and thick trees,
so tbsl (roni the river it is impossible
to see them, or discover the least
track of their rout. Here they sleep,
and feed upon monkeys, snakes, or
any other animals they can reach with
their sumpils. Wild hogs are their
favorite food, and they are in abun
dance; if these fail them, the young
sprouts of certain trees, and wild
fruit will answer their purpose.—
Nothing comes amiss 10 t|ie stomach
of a Diak Should the Rajah want
flesh, and it cannot be procured with
the sumpit, one of the followers is
killed, which not only provides then)
with a good meal, but a head to boot.
AVhi181 part of the people aVe employ
ed in bunting and cooking, others as
cend (he highest trees to examine the
country, and observe if a campong or
hut be near, which they discover by
the smoke. Snould it be a solitary
hut, (hey surround it, and take care
that no one escape; but should it be a
considerable campong, they go much
more warily to work. When the
boal6 have arrived within about a
mile of a campong, they prepare
themselves. About one third of the
party, who arc sent forivara, pene
trate the thickest parts of the jungle,
arriving at night near the houses,
which are surrounded, men being
placed in every footpath leading
from them,for the purpose of intercep
ting all who may attempt to escape
into the wood. In the mean time the
remainder of the party in their boats
arrive, about an hour before daylight,
in perfect silence, within a few hun
dred yards of (he campong. Most of
the warriors then put on their fight
ing-dress, and creep slowly forward,
leaving a few men in each boat, and
about a dozen with the women, who
remain ir the jungle. About twenty
minutes before day-break, they com
mence operations by throwing upon
the attaps (roofs) ol the huts, lighted
fire-balls, made of dry bark of trees,
and damar, which immediately in
volves the whole in flames. The wat
ery is then raised, and the work oi
murder commences; the male inhab
itants arc speared, or more common
ly cut down with the mandow, ns
they descend the ladders of their
(Intilings in attempting to escape the
flames, which Selgie remarked to me,
give just suficienl light to distinguish
a man from a woman. The women
and children endeavoring to gain the
jungle by the well known -paths, find
them already occupied by an enemy,
from which there is no escape. They
of course surrender themselves, and
are collected together, with the as
sistance of day-light, which they man
age so as to be certain of at this mo
ment. When the signal is first given,
(always by the Rajah) the people in
the boats pull rapidly; some of the
boats are placed up the river obove
the campong, some below it, and the
remainder abreast oi the lints, so that
should any of the unfortunate beings
gain their sampans, (boats) they are
certainly cut off in the water. * Their
principal object is to prevent a single
person escaping, to give intelligence
to other campougs, and to arrange the
time so- that the day shall dawn about
tenor fifteen minutes after the slaugh
ter begins, which ceables them to
take their stations, and fire the houses
in the midst of darkness, and after
wards affords sufficient light to secure
their prey. On moonlight nights they
keep concealed in Ihe jungle, only ac
ting in the dark. Heavy rams just
previous to the attack are not con
sidered favorable, at the attaps
(roofs) will not burn readily, but a
smart shower at the moment is al
ways wished for, the noise preventing
their operations being heard. Be
sides they imagine people sleep soun
dest about an hour before day-light,
particularly if it rains. After the
women and children are collected,
the old women are killed, and the
beads of 4he men cut off, the brains
taken out and fold over a fire, for the
purpose of smoking and preserving
them/' The women and children are
only secondary considerations
The heads are what they want,
and there is no Suffering a Diak will
not cheerfully endure, to be -reerth
nettted by • tingle one- From the
teal excursion, Stlgto’s people brought
with them 100 heads, of which 250
II to the share •ftomtelf and sons
women nod children ol* belonged
in lb* first instance. Many
“ IS «or
horrtver, will not eat human flesh,
and others refuse to do so except on
particular occasion!; as a birth, mar
riage or funeral. All these events
are celebrated with fresh heads.—
Nothing could be done without them.
All kinds of sickness, particularly the
the bravest of the Diaks, when they
have an idea, a few muskets may
possibly be brought against them.
No inducement will prevail upon
them, however numerous, to go for
ward. Hence the Bujis with a hand
ful of men act towards them ns
small pox, are supposed to he under I they think proper, making them de-
the influence of an evil spirit, which
nothing con so well propitiate as a
head. A Diak who has taken many
heads, may he immediately known
from others who have not bcon so for
tunate—he [comes into the presence
of the Rajah and takes his station
without hesitation, whilst an inferior
person is glad to creep at a*, any cor
ner to escape notice.
Activity and experlness of the tcarmor
Diaks.
The Diaks are the finest formed
men that can be conceived—perfect
models for the sculptors the warrior
tribes are remarkably large men;
their activity is wonderful; they will
leap and catch the lower branch of a
tree and climb to the top, hand over
hand, without apparent exertion. In
descending they throw themselves
into the midst of the branches, and
gain the ground immediately without
injury. They swim the moBt rapid
liver over not only the produce of
their country, fur alfoost nothing, but
a certain number of their ceildrcn
yearly, whom they sell as slaves.--
Selgie can bring into the Hold at
least 12,000 figlhmg men, and yet
the Bujis with fifty muskets, and a
few boat-swivels, will not hesitate
to meet them. The fact is, they no
sooner hear the report of a gun
than they run into the jungle. If
they are in boats, they leap into the
water, and after gaining the shore
never stop, until they are out of hear
ing of (he report. The most sensible
of the Diaks liavo a supersliloul idea
of fire arms. Each man on hearing
ihe report fancies the ball is making
directly towards himself. He there
fore runs, never thinking himself safe,
so long as he hears the explosion of
gunpowder. A man hearing the report
of a swivel five miles off, will
still continue at full speed with the
same trepidation as at first. These
rivers without fear of tlie numerous people have not the least conception
alligators, which they will attack, and of the range of gun barrels. I have
destroy in the water with their man- been frequently out with Selgie, and
dows. They possess the power of nthcr chiefs shooting birds, monkeys,
remaining a long time under the wa- &c. and offended them by refusiig
ter. A favorite plan with them is to to lire at large birds at the distance
surprise people in boats during the of a mile or more. They invariably
night: (bey drop gently into the river put such n refusals down to ill nature
about one hundred yards above the on my part. Again, when a bird or
boat, and glide down the current un- other object is fired at; they cannot
der water, when they suddenly ap- believe that it is missed, al-
pear and seizo some poor wretch, by though they 6ce the bird fly away:
his long hair, strike off his head by a but think (bat the shot is still purau*
blow or two with the mandow, and ing, and (hat the bird must fall at
carry it on ashore. Ongoing to war last. The Bujis take great care to
they wear defensive armor made of confirm them' in their dread of fire
the skins of the wild beasts, generally arms. However time will wear this
of the black bear, which are very off. Indeed Selgie and other Rajahs
numerous, but the Rajahs hate tiger talked very cavalierly of getting
skins; the skin is put over the head, muskets, and meeting (he Bujis on
and effectually covers the breast and their own terms,
back, leaving the arms naked; this Their Funerals.
with a helmet, curiously wrought Tiie burials of these people are
with bamboo, is proof against the not less singular than their marriages,
sumpit, spear, or mandow. Each The old men have every attention
man carries a shield, made of light, paid them whilst living, and indeed
hard wood, covered with a skin, and long after they die. Rii the death of
of a height suited to the size of the a Chief or Rajah, they dress him out
wearier, generally about five feet in in his war habiliments, and after
length, and two in breadth, turned keeping him in (henhouse a ceitrin
inwards, and held by the left hand, time according to his rank, seldom
When the chiefs engage hand to hand; longer than ten days, they carry him
they, after the spirit of chivalry, to the grave on a large litter, envcl-
throw their shields away and after oped in white cloth. They lay the
skirmishing with the sumpit, usually body in’a place prepared, without a
come to to close quarters. What coffin. By his side are deposited his
the chiefs generally aim at is a sur- arms, particularly his spear, kris, and
prise, hut the adverse party, knowing mandow. A quantity of rice and
iiis enemy is in the field, always pro- fruit are likewise enclosed, and
vides against this, and as one side is a high mound raised, encircled with
as cunning as the other, tfoy usually strong bamboo, upon which fresh
in the end, come to open blows, heads are placed ns the most nccepr
Their personal cpmbats are dreadful; table offering to the deceased. No
they have no idea of fear, and fight warrior would dare to appear before
until they are cut to pieces. Indeed the family of the chiet, without at
their astonishing strength, agility, nnd least one head ns a consolatory pres-
peculiar method of taking care of rnt. The heads are thickly studded
themselves, are such, that I am round the grave, nnd occasionally re-
firmly of opinion a good European newed during the first year or two,
snordsmau, would stand little chance the old ones being considered the prop-
with them, man toman, as; except erty of the succeding chief,
at their arms, he could not get a cut Their Religious Notions and Supersti-
at them. The temper of the steel lions.
with which they make their majyiows I .cannot ascertain that the Diaks
is such, that it does not require a have any religion amongst themselves,
very powerful man to cut through a or entertain an idea of future rewards
musket barrel at a single blow. The and punishments. None of the Bujis
Diaks iu lighlin s always strike, and or Agis were able to give me further
seldom thrust, ludoud their man- information on this subject than what
dow is not calculated'for it, butthj I was royise'f enabled to pick up from
small sword would ie useless against personal observation, and that was
them, ns it would not peijetrate the very little. They have no fear what-
thick skin in front, over which about ever of dying, either io‘ battle or oth-
tho navel they attach a very large erwise, provided tfoy are in no dan-
shefl. I have been present when • ger of losing their-heads- They
Selgie has taken two campongs; the have, however, the utmost dread of
inhabitants were surprised, and the losing their heads, which they eon
lighting consequently nil on one side,
but in n few instances resistance was
offered; I did not-observe them at
tempt to parry (he blo\vs, tyiih (heir
weapons. The blows were either
taken on the shield, or contrived to
meet the bamboo cap. As the men
of the campong had no time given
them to cover themselves, they were
easily c«t down." The noise is ter*
rific during (he massapro (it can be
called nothing else) and joined in by
all the Rajah's women, tyfo accom
pany him Jh his excursions. I was
always stationed amongst them far
from any danger.
'JJitii 4 dread of fire fire,
Wfcst these people mostly dread,
is the musket. It is inconceivable
alien of fetr come* prer
ccivc the greatest, and indeed' (be
only misfortune that can befall them;
and,this feeling seems to animate
them, from their knowledge of the
triumphs their enemies enjoy in gel
ling possession of thM greatest of all
treasures; (or all'Diaks in every pai l
of ,/hmeo nnd of the Celebes have the
saibe predilection for cutting off tho
heads of their enemies, and every
stanger is regarded as on enemy.
Il ls, however, most certsiu they
have some idea of a future state.
This not duly appears iu their burials,
hut on other occasions. There is a
certain bird, of which thUy stand in
f.rcat a»vd. ' Wtibn they hear the
note of this bird; no-inducement can
them farther on the same line
been out
shooting when we heard it. Oii
occasions they invariably would
and tremble violently, and imme'
ly take another road. ! neve,
obtain a sight of this bird of ill
for such it is considered. If 1
tempted to advance a single
nearer the sound, they took bold
me, pointing to the sky, and s'
gestures of apprehension forced
ti contrary way. The notes arc v
similar to those of our black 1
equally sweet but much strong
Notwithstanding my making brof
with the great Rajah, I always
tertained an impression that I sho
be murdered if by mischance I s'
happen to shoot one of these bir
It is evidently a superstitous feel
this particular bird being looked
on as an evil genius.
In the continuation of the acc
Mr. Dalton mentions bis belief
Europeans would be well receW
and the effect of the intercourse
desirable. “I once took occasi
mention to Selgie,” ho remarks. “I
lie could not hope to become fri
with tchile men, whilst his country
persevered in the practice of cutf
off heads. He replied, they wo
immediately leave it off and obey
Europeans in all things if (hey
the opportunity of coming in cont
with them, bringing thorn tfo
duce of the country, and r%cciviir
return such articles as they requ
I have beard the same from o
Rai°hl, particularly from Se
with whom I could converse is
Malay language.”
Are not these among the isles
wait for His law?
• JSsipoApy puapioj aqi uiojji
UNITED STATES SENATE
The distinguished members of
Senate have been particuh
noticed in my former communicati
Of the aggregate character of
body, I believe I have not spokei
length. I. could net do justice!
in an ordinary communication,
lias been pronounced by those
were capable of judging, to be
of the most intellectual public ass
blies in the world. In great n
perhaps, no country can show m
superior to Clay, Calhoun, Web*
Hayne, and Tazewell. Thev
emphatically (he five great m«
that body—a station which anj
dinary observer with sufficient
portunily would assign them wit
iicsitntion And yet their talcnli
curiuosly varied. Clay hat ims
tion, ready brilliant, and sparl
eloquence, and is an admirable I
lative tactician. Calhoun is i
cautious. His thoughts floiv cop
I . , and aro stripped of all meta
Webster thinks not so rapidf
Calhoun; but when in full excite
lias more power. Tazewell
arch lawyer, who seizes, a topic
great vigor. He is a tronblr
opponent, nnd will tpar one’s
mcnl to pieces, if possible.; 1
Calhoun, and Webster have
leading men in' Ihe flouse of R;
senlativcs, and thejr speeches’
wi*l well compare with any o
modern efforts of oratory. Cl a;
no justice done him in Ips rep
speeches. Of Calhoun, 1 conn
well speak, never fonrd him in a
effort. Webster appears wc
print; perhaps as well ns in the
ate. IIis style is more caul
more polished; his.metaphors
belter contrived than Clay’s, tl
not so new, nor indicating half so
an imagination. Tazewell's shr
ues and archness, and headlong
c&l tvay of talking, no one.can ye
You have but a faipt idea of fa
print, and yet there you lose bis
hoarse voice. (1) ,
'lo those five whom I have ns
pre eminence would be assign
almost every stronger. The p
ncut parts they have acted pn ii
taut questions, ivoult), perhap
title them tp the first rank,
there is a varied body pressing
them. The talents of the rein
are wonderfully diversified. N
resemble each ptfior iu per,soni
ner, or similarity pf mind-
are talkers, others mb oothinj
vote judiciously and dUercetly
arc tue very best . kHmets <rieu
fc>prague is a foaujjftil, 0
and commanding sp*/ 1 *-
elpgtuee pt sjy,l£
superior force.
■ai castle, aud slt
qualities be uu^m
of facts, and ab