64 IN MALAY FORESTS. 



for soon after death the bristles on the back move, 

 and stand on end with the contraction or relaxation 

 of the muscles ; and to come within the range of the 

 aim of these bristles, which have the position they 

 assume when the living animal is enraged, is to invite 

 the attacks of the bahdi. It is thought that they are 

 waiting to avenge the death of the deer, and that the 

 movement of the bristles is caused by their prepara- 

 tion to leave the body of their protege : until driven 

 out by the pawang, they will dart out upon any one 

 who passes, and inflict upon him such ill as is in their 

 power. No one, of course, is absolutely safe from 

 them, for they can move freely anywhere, but a 

 position at which the bristles point is one of supreme 

 danger. The pawang then hands the gun back to the 

 owner, proceeds to cut a leafy branch from some tree 

 close by, and lops a second branch, of which he makes 

 a small stake. He goes up to the deer, which still 

 lies with the noose round its neck, and drives the 

 stake into the ground close to its heels. Then stand- 

 ing in the same position to the deer as in the last 

 case, he passes the branch three times over its body 

 in the same way that he had done with the gun 

 before, and using the same words. The ceremony is 

 not, however, complete when he has done this, for he 

 next works the noose from the neck of the deer 

 down over the body and along to the heels of the 

 hind -legs. Here he draws the noose tight again, 

 and then suddenly slips it from the heels on to the 

 stake placed in readiness, upon which he tightens 

 it, and shouts " Lepas ! " 



The shout is again echoed, and the ceremony com- 



