48 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



vague. Thus the Kayans believe that the objec- 

 tion of the Mohammedan Malays to the eating of 

 pig is due to reincarnation of their souls in animals 

 of that species, which belief naturally causes some 

 vexation to the Malay traders. 



Among the Kayans and other peoples sceptics 

 are to be found, and, as no inquisitorial methods are 

 in vogue among them, such persons will on occasion 

 give expression to their doubts about the accepted 

 dogmas, although speech about such topics is 

 generally repressed by some touch of awe. One 

 man, for example, argued in our hearing that he 

 could hardly believe that man continues to exist 

 after death, for, said he, if men and women still lived 

 after death, some of those who have been very fond 

 of their children would surely return to see them, 

 and would be in some way perceived by the living. 

 But all such discussions are usually terminated with 

 the remark, *' Nusi jam ? " (*' Who knows ?") 



The Kenyahs' disposal of their dead is very 

 similar in all respects to the Kayan practice. But 

 the burial customs of most of the Klemantan tribes 

 are different. Their usual practice is to keep the 

 coffin containing the corpse in the gallery of the 

 house until the period of mourning is terminated. 

 A bamboo tube carried down through the floor to 

 the ground permits the escape of fluids resulting 

 from decomposition. The coffin itself is sealed 

 closely with wax, and elaborately decorated with 

 carved and painted wood-work. After several 

 months or even years have elapsed a feast is made 

 (the feast of the bones) ; the coffin is opened and 

 the bones taken out and cleaned. They are then 

 packed into a smaller coffin or a large ovoid jar, 

 which is carried to the village cemetery. There it is 

 placed either in the hollowed upper end of a massive 

 post, or into a large wooden chamber containing, or 

 to contain, the remains of several persons, generally 



