90 BIAJU CONNECTED WITH fit/GIS.
by the Malays to designate a chtaneous disease to which the
aborigines of Borneo are very liable*/mete so than any of
the other Polynesian tribes whom I bavé encountered. I am
of opinion that this is the origin of the term Dayak as applied
to the aborigines of Borneo. Still it is possible that the
word as applied to the disease may have originated from the
national designation.
“ * Idaan ’ or ‘ Idan ’ in the Javanese dialect of the
Malayan language signifies 4 foolish ’ or ‘ lightheaded/
“ * Biajfi’ is probably the same with | Bajü’ or % Badju’
and ‘ Wajü,’ which terms are applied to the neighbouring
people of the opposite coast of Macassar in Celebes, and
likewise to that singular people who live upon the sea in
prahus, and whose chief-resort is. the eastern coast of
Borneo and the opposite shores of Celebes. These last*
mentioned people are commonly termed ‘ Badju Laut*’ or
1 Badju of the Sea/ The Wajuunf Celebes ai feBa more
cultivated people than the Biaju of Borneo* and their" civilisation
seems to have been contemporaneous with that of the
B6gis of Celebes, from whom it is impossible to distinguish
them. At Singhapore the Waju people are generally called
Bügis.' Marsden says that they are called Tüwajü. I have
not the slightest doubt that the Biaju or Bajü Dayaks, the
Badjü or Baju Laut, the Waju or Tuwaju, and the Biigis or
Ugi are one and the same people, with only that slight
variation in manners which results from separatiorrnnd intercourse
with foreigners.”
“ Crawfurd’s Comparative vocabulary will show a very near
approximation between* the Biaju, Dayak, and the Malayan.
The Malays of the southern extremity of the peninsula of
Malacca are supposed to have been originally a tribe of
Biajü Laut; and there are numerous traits of resemblance in
customs and general character which confirm this tradition/’
Physical Characters o f the Dayaks.
“ There is no peculiarity of personal appearance that serves
readily to distinguish the Dayaks of the plain or level counPHYSIOAL
CHARACTERS. 91
tries- , from the Malays or the B&gisB In their manners the
Dayaks are more bashful and modest. The Dayaks of the
interior, who inhabit a country comparatively* Cold owing to
its greats;elevation,, and, approaching to the temperature of
Europe, are a finer people, fatter. :and better formed, and
fairer in complexion than the Bugis. and Malays-of the coast
of Bompo and the’ neighbouring -islands. Their hair is
' generally straight, though fc^n-curlytit waving, :imd always
long, and much care is bestowed upon-it;^ Mr. Earle adds,
^ throughout the archipelago, the mountain tithes of the
- Polynesian race are fairer thah those»-of the plains;? Thus
while the Dayaks of the plains resemble the-5 Malays and
Bugis^ in their personal taspect, .those of > the interior have a
strong resemblance to thermounteini tribes of Menado and
Celebes, to the people ;..ofLSumatra inland from .Bencoolen,
and to thei/natives of the ZNeas and Poggi islands near the
west coas^bf Sumatra, I have already meMintied the*resem-
blance that they beaT to the fairest of the Timorians.” Some
of these fast* as we shall find from Mr. Earles- account of
themf h av e ^ li^ t Or xantjious hair, like fair- Europeans.
Mr, Earle says that he has seen tattooed Dayaks^and that
the Polynesian 'custom of tattooing the ^ » .p re v a ils among
the,Dayak tribesiin the interior of Borneo;* i He has likewise
been informed that it prevails among! the maritime: tribe&.of
-Celebes, though he has never, seen any . natives of that island
so pnarked.
From these observations it seems evident that the people
of Borneo who are called Dayaks are-of the Malayo-Poly-
nesian race. It is also probable that all the other native
tribes"of the same island, except the Papuas, whether;termed
Idaan, Marut, or Alforas, are of the same family with the
Dayaks.
S ection V I.— O f the Ternatas and the Inhabitants o f the
Moluccas in general.
In th§ most remote part of the Indian A^hipelagoTowards
the east is the groupe or rather the Archipelago of the