There is such a house in nearly all Dyak villages.

It serves as a trading-place, a strangers' room, a sleeping-room for unmarried youths, and a general council-chamber.

Here Nigel found the hermit and Moses enjoying a good meal when he arrived, to which he and the professor sat down after paying their respects to the chief.
"The Orang-Kaya hopes that we will stay with him some time and help to defend the village," said Van der Kemp, when they were all seated.
"Of course you have agreed ?" said Nigel.
"Yes; I came for that purpose." "We's allers ready to fight in a good cause," remarked Moses, just before filling his mouth with rice.
"Or to die in it!" added Verkimier, engulfing the breast of a chicken at a bite.

"But as zee pirates are not expected for some days, ve may as veil go after zee mias--zat is what zee natifs call zee orang-utan.

It is a better word, being short." Moses glanced at the professor out of the corners of his black eyes and seemed greatly tickled by his enthusiastic devotion to business.
"I am also," continued the professor, "extremely anxious to go at zee booterflies before--" "You die," suggested Nigel, venturing on a pleasantry, whereat Moses opened his mouth in a soundless laugh, but, observing the professor's goggles levelled at him, he transformed the laugh into an astounding sneeze, and immediately gazed with pouting innocence and interest at his plate.
"Do you alvays sneeze like zat ?" asked Verkimier.
"Not allers," answered the negro simply, "sometimes I gibs way a good deal wuss.