4 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



inert material objects ; and they do not explain 

 the majority of physical events animistically. 



The spiritual powers or spirits may, we think, 

 be conveniently regarded as of three principal 

 classes : — 



(i) There are the anthropomorphic spirits 

 thought of as dwelling in remote and vaguely 

 conceived regions and as very powerful to intervene 

 in human life. Towards these the attitude of the 

 Kayans is one of supplication and awe, gratitude 

 and hope, an attitude which is properly called 

 reverential and is the specifically religious attitude. 

 These spirits must be admitted to be gods in a 

 very full sense of the word, and the practices, 

 doctrines, and emotions centred about these spirits 

 must be regarded as constituting a system of 

 religion. 



(2) A second class consists of the spirits of 

 living and deceased persons, and of other anthropo- 

 morphically conceived spirits which, as regards the 

 nature and extent of their powers, are more nearly 

 on a level with the human spirits than those of the 

 first class. Such are those embodied in the omen 

 animals and in the domestic pig, fowl, dog, in the 

 crocodile, and possibly in the tiger-cat and a few 

 other animals. 



(3) The third class is more heterogeneous, and 

 comprises all the spirits or impalpable intelligent 

 powers that do not fall into one or other of the 

 two preceding classes ; such are the spirits very 

 vaguely conceived as always at hand, some malevo- 

 lent, some good ; such also are the spirits which 

 somehow are attached to the heads hung up in the 

 houses. The dominant emotion in the presence of 

 these is fear ; and the attitude is that of avoidance 

 and propitiation. 



