IN BUBU. 



395 



Their houses were of the most miserable description, fairly 

 well-roofed but Avithout any furniture or conveniences, with the 

 exception of a narrow platform raised a few feet above the 

 earthen floor for sleeping on. Behind each house I observed 

 a small thatched structure which 

 they called the Matakaiiy the 



sacred place of the Alefura 

 wherein, by burning dammar, 

 he propitiates the Great Spirit 

 Allah Stall a. The Matakau is 



■m 



a small platform erected on a 

 short pole and roofed over with 

 palm-leaf thatch from whose 

 eaves all round hangs down a 



of split-up palm 

 Inside are preserved a 



long 

 leaflet 



fringe 



s. 



r, a Kau tunn or 



g-stick constantly 



carried by the natives on their 

 jouineys (with these they are 

 adepts at quarter-staff; I was 



two 



seemg 



MATAKAU. 



much amused by 

 children practising with singu- 

 lar skill their cuts and guards, quite unconscious of being 

 watched), a dish containing siri, betel and chalk, and a piece of 

 scarlet cloth. Before sowing any of their fields, some of the 

 seed is always placed inside the x^Iatakau, dammar is burned, 

 and their ritual performed in order to secure its fructifiratiou. 



Their most dreaded and respected oath is made, holding tlio 

 sharp top of a sago palm leaf in the hand, on the sacred knife 

 and spear taken from the Matakau ; for they believe in the power 

 of these pomali-weapons to harm them at any unguarded 

 moment Another form of adjuration is in drinking after 

 making their declaration, water in which had been placed salt 

 (that they may melt away), a blade of Kussu-grass (that they 



) 



a kiilfo (that 



tlieir bodies be pierced, cut and run tli rough) if they have 



sworn falsely. 



Proceeding on our way, we camped for the night in the 



made of the long leaves of the sago- 



forest under a canopy 



