Dyaks

Dyaks, or DAYAKS, is the Malay name for the race who constitute the bulk of the aboriginal population of Borneo, divided into innumerable tribes, differing pretty widely in language, customs, and degrees of savageness. Physically they closely resemble the Malays, to whom they are doubtless akin, but are somewhat taller; they are intelligent, hospitable, and unsuspicious, and greatly excel the Malays in truthfulness and honesty. Many of the dialects spoken by them are little known; but they seem all to fall into some five great geographical groups. The coast tribes have adopted many Malay words, and some have completely adopted the Malay speech. Even the most uncivilised tribes have many ingenious arts and industries, weave cloth, make excellent steel weapons, and erect most serviceable suspension bridges with bamboo poles and withes. Their chief weapon is the Blowpipe (q.v.), not the bow. The barbarous custom of systematic 'head-hunting' is dying out, though the heads of enemies are still cherished trophies of the warrior. The Sea-Dyaks were long famous as untamable pirates. See BORNEO.