Ancient Indian Colonies in the Far East (Vol. I: Champa; Vol. II: Suvarnadvipa) v2.c13.48

v2.c13.48

The Proto-Malay type is met with all over Malayasia. The Batak, Achinese, Gayo and Lampongs of Sumatra, the Dayaks, Kayan, Kenyah, Dusun and Murut of Borneo, and the aborigines of Celebes, Ternate and Tidore—all belong to this type. Some of them are cruel and ferocious. The Batak, for example, are said to be cannibals who eat prisoners and aged relatives. The Kayan and Kenyah are noted for their frightful cruelty and their women seem to have a genius for devising tortures for captives, slaves and strangers. Others are more civilised. The Dayaks of Borneo, although head-hunters for ritualistic purposes, are described as ‘mild in character, tractable and hospitable when well used, grateful for kindness, industrious, honest and simple; neither treacherous nor cunning, and so truthful that the word of one of them might be safely taken before the oath of half a dozen Malays.’