HEAD-HUNTING IN THE ARCHIPELAGO

The Malay Archipelago is known as Nusantara or Gugusan Kepulauan Melayu to the people.

James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak had to ban head-hunting otherwise there would be no end to it because it is vengeful. Without peace means no economy to finance governing his territory.

However, when he put down the Chinese miners' rebellion who were against his government imposing tax and burnt down Kuching he let the Dyak head-hunters chased them into the jungles of Kalimantan. More than a thousand heads were chopped off.

Dried heads of victims placed by the rafter of the house.

A Kelabit father in head-hunting gear at Long Lelang.

A young Sea Dyak equipped for a long expedition either in search of food or hunting heads.

A Dyak headhunter.

Band of head hunters. They can track the enemy through thick jungle.

Dyak mandaus with hand-carved handles from deer horns for headhunting.

Land Dyak head house, or Bala of Lanchang Village on Upper Sadong River.

Murut head-feast.

Dyaks convicted of murder by headhunting, on the way to prison.