Head-hunters, black, white, and brown

by Alfred C. Haddon

To return to my friend Ballan, Hose said he did not care to mention the matter to the relatives unless Ballan was in earnest, and that now he was assured of this he thought it was a very good and entirely suitable match, and he would be very pleased to help it on by speaking to Tama Bulan; if he waited on the verandah he would let him know the result.

Tama Bulan was in his room, and on entering Hose beckoned to him that he had something to say privately. Tama Bulan got up and went to one side and remarked, “Tuan?” “Oh, it’s nothing important. Some of these young people want to get married, and as usual have asked me to put it through for them.” “Who is it?” “Oh, Ballan wants to marry Laan, and they are afraid to tell you.” “Oh yes, that’s a good match; we are all connections. I’ll go and tell the father. You wait here a bit.”

Tama Bulan then went to consult Laan’s father, Aban Tingan, who no doubt had seen what had been going on for the last few days, but he had held his peace. In a few minutes Tama Bulan returned. “Oh yes, Aban Tingan is agreeable; that’s all right.” Hose then put in a word for Ballan. “Will there be any brian [i.e. bride-price]?” “Oh no; we are all more or less related. Ballan is my relative; there will be nothing very much. There will be the usual adat [custom] of expenses for a feast in which we will all join; then there is the custom of depositing a tarwak at the time of proposal.” Hose then said he would be responsible for the tarwak, for he had previously taken an interest in Ballan, and during the earlier part of my stay at Claudetown Ballan had visited him.

Hose then went into the verandah and found Ballan anxiously awaiting the result of the interview. Hose told him that Tama Bulan and Aban Tingan were agreeable. Ballan then said that according to custom he would have to find a tarwak. Hose reassured him by the information that he had already arranged this for him.

Aban Tingan’s house, or rather suite of rooms, is next to Tama Bulan’s, and that evening, when Hose retired into one of Tama Bulan’s rooms, he heard the young people chatting in the adjoining room. Hose called out to Ballan to come round and talk to him; for a long time he was very unwilling, which was not unnatural, considering the circumstances. Having secured him Hose forced the conversation, so that Ballan sent round for his mat, and made preparations as if he were going to sleep in the same room as his tiresome benefactor. In the meantime the lady, weary of waiting, began to very softly play the usual lovers’ tune on the kaluri.

Hose, of course, understood what the girl was playing, and chaffed poor Ballan about it; then, taking pity on the young people, he pretended to go to sleep, and when Ballan thought he was soundly off, he rolled up his mat and silently bolted. Next morning Laan came out to shake hands as Hose was going away, and told him that Ballan had told her all that he had done for them.

The subsequent history of this love affair was not quite such plain sailing. Preparations had been made for the marriage, and two days before the happy event a child, who was strolling in the farm, was killed by a tree falling on it. This incident was unlucky, and it was necessary for Ballan to return home and wait awhile.

Later they made a second attempt to get married, but it was first necessary to consult the omen birds. They did so, and one old man in the crowd said he saw a very bad omen. Ballan said to Taman Bulan he wanted to be married, the white man did not bother about omens, and why should he? A modern vernacular translation of one of his remarks to the great chief was that he wanted to “chuck those blooming birds.”

It is really very doubtful how far Tama Bulan believes in these things, but he is a statesman, and consequently always politic, so he replied to Ballan, “You may not mind, but your conduct may affect the whole family.” Ballan had again to return home unmarried.

Subsequently Hose invited Ballan to come and stay for a month with him. Tama Bulan happened to come down during that visit, and Ballan asked the Resident to talk to Tama Bulan about his marriage. He did so, and Tama Bulan said he would arrange it after the next harvest.