Page:The Land of the Veda.djvu/558

548 manifested in the early years when the missionary enterprise was new to most Christians, developed itself in a remarkable way on this occasion. An extraordinary impression was made upon the delegates when Dr. Luering gave in simple language a report of his work in Borneo.

“All the interior of the great island of Borneo, an island, by the way, which is as large as France, is inhabited by tribes of wild people called Dyaks. These men, without exception, are said to be ‘head-hunters;’ that is, men who make it an object in life to possess themselves of the skulls of persons killed by themselves. It is said that a young man is not considered worthy of acceptance as a husband until he has killed somebody ; and every man's standing is much influenced by the number of polished skulls which he is able to hang up under the ridge-pole of his bamboo dwelling. A common belief is entertained, when a man kills anyone and possesses himself of the skull of his victim, that as long as he keeps it he will have incorporated into his own person all the courage and other virtues which belonged to the murdered man ; and hence every Dyak warrior is extremely unwilling to part with one of these trophies.

“After giving some details in regard to his life in Borneo, Dr. Luering went on to speak of the terrible ravages caused by this custom of head-hunting. During his comparatively brief stay he was able to master one of the Dyak dialects sufficiently to converse freely with the people, and among others a man of considerable local influence seemed to be much influenced by what he heard concerning Christ and his mission among men. He had frequently talked to Dr. Luering about becoming a Christian, and at times it seemed as if he was really inclined to take that decisive step. This man had no less than ninety skulls suspended in his dwelling, and his visitors would always see them occupying their conspicuous place, and know that an awful story of crime was probably connected with each one of them.

“When Dr. Luering received his summons to return immediately to Singapore, he called on this man to say farewell. It