Seventeen Years Among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo A Record of Intimate Association with the Natives of the Bornean Jungles

"Seventeen Years Among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo" by Edwin Herbert Gomes is an early 20th-century recollection that shines a light on the Sea Dyaks, a native group living in Borneo, and it comes from the author's many years as a missionary. The book gives a good look at their customs, how their society was organized, and how Western ideas changed their culture. The story starts by painting a picture of Borneo's wild jungles and the Dyaks' troubled history, especially their days as pirates and headhunters. The book introduces Sir James Brooke, an important person who stopped those activities and brought order, leading to changes that greatly affected the Dyaks' lives. The story explores how hard life was for the Dyaks, revealing the violence and worry that filled their society. It also hints at the big cultural shifts that would come as Western governments and missionaries began to have influence, which is a major topic the book will look at closely.