Through Central Borneo: An Account of Two Years' Travel in the Land of the Head-hunters Between the Years 1913 and 1917, Volume 1

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C. Scribner's sons, 1920 - Borneo - 467 pages
 

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Page 12 - ... walls are covered with bas-reliefs crowded with figures, and carved in hard stone ; and which must therefore occupy an extent of nearly three miles in length ! The amount of human labour and skill expended on the Great Pyramids of Egypt sinks into insignificance when compared with that required to complete this sculptured hill-temple in the interior of Java.
Page 7 - Travelling ought also to teach him distrust; but at the same time he will discover, how many truly kind-hearted people there are, with whom he never before had, or ever again will have any further communication, who yet are ready to offer him the most disinterested assistance.
Page 18 - ... may yet do so, if they have the same courage and the same perseverance. Imagination whispers to ambition that there are yet lands unknown which might be discovered. Tell me, would not a man's life be well spent — tell me, would it not be well sacrificed, in an endeavour to explore these regions ? When I think on dangers and death, I think of them only because they would remove me from such a field for ambition, for energy, and for knowledge.
Page 18 - ... reputation, and where hundreds may yet do so, if they have the same courage and the same perseverance. Imagination whispers to ambition, that there are yet lands unknown which might be discovered.
Page 13 - the very garden of the East, and perhaps, upon the whole, the richest, the best cultivated, and the best governed tropical island in the world," as Wallace described it eighty years ago.
Page v - ... Algonquins of the Isle were the most trustworthy and intelligent of all the Algonquins met by the French. They never broke a contract made with the French officials, or traders. Their pledged word could always be depended upon. They belonged to that superior class of savages of whom Chateaubriand writes : "We may safely affirm that the better specimens of savages are much superior to the lower examples of civilized people."* The Monsoni. An Algonquin clan carrying the totem of the northern •Ojibways....
Page 75 - ... Women, as usual, were timid about being photographed, for it is a universal belief that such an operation prevents women from bearing children.
Page 230 - He was also very particular in putting on correct apparel, whether to appear in warrior costume or as a private gentleman of the highest caste. His sword and the rest of his outfit, as might be expected, were of magnificent finish, the best of which Dayak handicraft is capable. He made altogether a splendid subject for the camera, but his family proved less satisfactory. I had to wait an hour and a half before Jiis womenfolk were ready, femininity apparently being alike in this regard in all races.
Page 225 - Boiled rice, a small quantity of salt, some dried fish, and boiled fowl were wrapped in pieces of banana leaves, and two such small parcels were offered on each occasion, Meantime the festive preparations continued. Many loads of bamboo were brought in, because much rice and much pork was to be cooked in these handy utensils provided by nature. Visitors were slowly but steadily arriving. On the fourth day came the principal man, the Raja Besar (great chief), who resides a little further up the river,...
Page 133 - It is a fortunate fact that these extremely efficient weapons, which noiselessly bring down birds and monkeys from great heights, are not widely distributed over the globe.

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