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Having gone to the eastward extremity of the deep bay we had entered, without finding any sign of an opening, we turned westward; and towards evening were so fortunate as to find a small village of seven miserable houses built on piles in the water. Luckily the Orang-kaya, or head man, could speak a little.
I have tried to find out, but he vill not speak." The Orang-Kaya, or rich man, as this hill chief was styled, had provided lodgings for his visitors in the "head-house." This was a large circular building erected on poles. There is such a house in nearly all Dyak villages. It serves as a trading-place, a strangers' room, a sleeping-room for unmarried youths, and a general council-chamber.
And even should it be so, and they should return, you are ready and well able to meet them." "Yes, ready and well able to meet them," replied the Orang-Kaya, drawing himself up proudly. "Did they all go in one direction?" asked Van der Kemp of the youths who had brought the news. "Yes, all went in a body to the north except one boat which rowed southward." "Hm! I thought so.
This sago forms almost the whole subsistence of the inhabitants, who appear to cultivate nothing but a few small patches of maize and sweet potatoes. Hence, as before explained, the scarcity of insects. The Orang-kaya has fine clothes, handsome lamps, and other expensive European goods, yet lives every day on sago and fish as miserably as the rest.
Here Nigel found the hermit and Moses enjoying a good meal when he arrived, to which he and the professor sat down after paying their respects to the chief. "The Orang-Kaya hopes that we will stay with him some time and help to defend the village," said Van der Kemp, when they were all seated. "Of course you have agreed?" said Nigel. "Yes; I came for that purpose."
I have tried to find out, but he vill not speak." The Orang-Kaya, or rich man, as this hill chief was styled, had provided lodgings for his visitors in the "head-house." This was a large circular building erected on poles. There is such a house in nearly all Dyak villages. It serves as a trading-place, a strangers' room, a sleeping-room for unmarried youths, and a general council-chamber.
The "Orang-kaya" being very ill with fever had begged to go home, and had arranged with one of the men of the house to go on with me as his substitute. Now that I wanted to move, the bugbear of the pirates was brought up, and it was pronounced unsafe to go further than the next small river.
Here Nigel found the hermit and Moses enjoying a good meal when he arrived, to which he and the professor sat down after paying their respects to the chief. "The Orang-Kaya hopes that we will stay with him some time and help to defend the village," said Van der Kemp, when they were all seated. "Of course you have agreed?" said Nigel. "Yes; I came for that purpose."
We had a consultation, and arranged for a boat to take me the next evening but one, to Pelah, whence I was to proceed on foot, the Orang-kaya going the day before to call the Alfuros to carry my baggage.
On landing, the Orang-kaya and several of the chief men, in gorgeous silk jackets, were waiting to receive us, and conducted me to a house prepared for my reception, where I determined to stay a few days, and see if the country round produced anything new. My first inquiries were about the lories, but I could get very little satisfactory information.
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