IBANS (SEA DAYAKS). Mostly in the south-west of Borneo, but scattered, on account of their migratory habits, over various parts, usually not far from the coast, are the Ibans, who may be described as a butterfly people. The word Iban, or Ivan, meaning "wanderer," was applied to them by the Kayans and has only been adopted by the Ibans themselves within the last half century. Their skin is darker than that of the other tribes and their hair longer; their mouths are often shapeless and their teeth are filed and discoloured by the chewing of betel-nut. They are, however, a most likeable people and are the tribe best known and best liked by Europeans. They are cheerful, talkative, and sociable, but very ready to quarrel and addicted to litigation. Individually they are vain and self-indulgent, and given to boast ing and exaggeration. These faults often lead collectively to a want of discipline, their individualistic bent and their cama raderie being responsible for follies, and even excesses, in which every man follows his neighbour. For this reason the chief in an Iban long house or village has less power and influence than is the case among Kayans or Kenyahs. On the other hand, when an Iban is given some special work by a European his vanity impels him to do it well, and, coupled with a natural adaptability, makes him a more loyal adherent of a settled government.
As Ibans rarely remain in one village for more than three years at a stretch, they are not great builders, but in smaller material and in detail they are such skilled artists that their houses, though unsubstantial, are full of conveniences and amenities. Though they are spoken of as sea dyaks, they are not really a sea-faring people; they are often content with makeshift arrangements as to boats, most of their canoes consisting simply of the hollowed out trunks of big trees. In many sorts of decorative work, such as bead or shell-work, and various patterned articles of clothing, they excel. In general, their faults and their virtues alike leap to the eye; but their geniality and willingness, their versatility and humour, make for attractiveness. See BORNEO.
See C. Hose and W. McDougall, The Pagan Tribes of Borneo (1912) . IBARRA, a city of Ecuador and capital of the province of Imbabura, is situated about 5o m. N.N.E. of Quito in lat. 25' N. and long. 7 8 ° io' W., on a small fertile plain at the northern foot of Imbabura volcano, 7,34o ft. above sea-level. Pop. (1926 esti mate) i o,000. It stands on the left bank of the Tahuando, a small stream whose waters north and west through the Mira, and is from the of Quito by an elevated transverse ridge of which the Imbabura and Mojanda volcanoes form a part. Ibarra itself has a mild, humid climate, and is set in the midst of orchards and gardens. It is the see of a bishop and has a large number of churches and convents, and many substantial residences. Ibarra has tures of cotton and woollen fabrics, hats, sandals (alpargates), sacks and rope from cabulla fibre, laces, sugar and various kinds of distilled spirits and cordials made from the sugar-cane grown in the vicinity. The city was founded in 1597 by Alvaro de Ibarra, president of Quito. It has suffered from the eruptions of Imbabura, and more severely from earthquakes, that of 1859 causing great damage to its public buildings, and the greater one of Aug. 16, 1868, almost completely destroyed the town and killed a large number of its inhabitants. The village of Carranqui, 1 I m. from Ibarra, is the birthplace of Atahualpa, the Inca ereign executed by Pizarro, and close by is the small lake called Yaguarcocha where the army of Huaynacapac, the father of hualpa, inflicted a bloody defeat on the Carranquis. Another aboriginal battle-field is that of Hatuntaqui, near Ibarra, where Huaynacapac won a decisive victory and added the greater part of Ecuador to his realm.