THE OMEN ANIMALS OF 8AEAWAK. 85 



when the sun comes out it bursts into long 'kieng, kieng' ; *tok' is bad, 

 but 'kieng' is good. 



When a Kenyah hears the 'tok' cry, he immediately stops, lights 

 a fire and takes the usual precautions in talking to it. He knows per- 

 fectly well that the same bird makes the two notes, and he waits for 

 the 'kieng.' His explanation is that when the bird calls 'tok' it is angry, 

 and that it is in a good temper when it sings 'kieng,' and therefore it is 

 well not to go contrariwise to the omen. The Ibans behave in a 

 similar manner. The Kenyahs regard it as a bird of warning, but not 

 one that assists in getting anything. If a man was doing anything with 

 a parang, knife or other sharp-edged tool and heard even a 'kieng,' he 

 would probably desist from further use of it for that day. 



The little woodpecker (Sasia ahnormis) is in high favor among the 

 Ibans; in fact, they consider it most important, as he represents 

 his father-in-law, 'Sengalong Burong.' The 'Katupong' appears to pro- 

 duce whatever result they require. It is of less importance with other 

 peoples of Sarawak. 



Mr. Crossland informs us if a katupong enters a house at one end 

 and flies out the other, men and women snatch up a few necessaries, 

 such as mats and rice, and stampede, leaving ever3rthing unsecured and 

 the doors unfastened. If any one approaches the house at night, he will 

 see large and shadowy demons chasing each other through it, and hear 

 their unintelligible talk. After awhile the people return and erect the 

 ladder they have overthrown, and the women sprinkle the house with 

 water *to cool it.' 



A kind of thrush (Cittocincla suavis) is particularly useful to the 

 Ibans when looking for gutta or other jungle produce. 'Nendak' 

 is a good bird too for them to own, as it is a Burong chelap, and, on 

 hearing it, they would not be afraid of any sickness. 



Before starting on a gutta expedition, they would require to see 

 something before 'beragai' (Harpactes duvauceli) , as this is a ^burong 

 tampak,' that is, an omen animal that is potent for hunting. What they 

 like is: First, to get 'neiidak,' then wait three days while they are 

 owning it, finally to get ^beragai' on the right. This combination sig- 

 nifies certain success ; not only would they find gutta, but would obtain 

 plenty of it, and no harm or sickness would befall them. If, however, 

 they went for gutta on 'beragai' alone, and that, perhaps, appeared on 

 the left, they would obtain a fair amount of gutta, but they would stand 

 a good chance of some misfortune happening to them, and one of 

 their party might fall sick, or even die. 



The Tailor bird (Orthotomus cineraceus) , although employed by 

 Ibans only, is of very little use, as it is only a secondary burong. 

 It may be employed as an additional argument when deciding for 

 *Selam,' or trial by the water ordeal. This consists in the two dispu- 



