Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalof404219041905roya).pdf/243

 The virgin forest, though less easy to fell, has this advantage over previously cleared ground, that no grass is growing on the land and much trouble in weeding is avoided. But the men do the felling, the women most of the weeding, and whether a choice is made of forest or scrub will depend largely on the courtesy and consideration shown by the men for their wives and daughters. If the forest is chosen, the men, sometimes helped by their womenfolk, cut down the undergrowth and small trees with their parangs, and then begin to attack the great trunks from slight platforms well above the ground, which enable them to avoid buttresses and roots. The felling is usually accomplished in this manner. The ground being as a rule the sloping side of a hill, each tree is cut through from one side nearly to the core, and on the opposite side an equal distance a little lower down the trunk. The lower cut is made on the side facing down hill. By dint of much labour, in which the various members of a village generally come to help their comrades, a whole hill side of trees is cut through till a slight blow will hurl them to the ground. Two heavy trunks at the summit are then felled, and made to fall on the neighbouring trees. These fall in their turn, and carry with them those below, till with a loud roar and a mighty rush of wind a V shaped space is cleared on the slope below. Like a pack of cards the forest monsters are laid low, to the intense excitement and delight of the howling spectators.

Then again the Dayaks await the permission of the stars for the next operation. Only when the Pleiades are at the zenith before dawn do they think if advisable to burn and sow. By this time, unless the weather has been wet, an unlikely circumstance at the season of year, the boughs are dry as match wood and the leaves are dead, though still on the twigs. Some hot day, towards noon, when a breeze is blowing, they take down special charms to secure wind, and also endeavour to attract the Æolian spirits by keeping up a loud whirr. The mass of dead wood is then set on fire. The flames rise to the skies and fill the country with smoke, while the added heat of the fire is almost insupportable. Insects with singed wings buzz around, and the hawks dive into the smoke to find their prey. The spectacle is grand indeed. Sometimes wet weather keeps