CHAPTER XV 



ANIMISTIC BELIEFS CONNECTED WITH ANIMALS 

 AND PLANTS^ 



Many of the animals, both wild and domesticated, 

 are held by the Kenyahs in peculiar regard ; those 

 that most influence their conduct are the omen- 

 birds, and among the omen-birds the common 

 white-headed carrion-hawk [Haliaster intermedins) 

 is by far the most important. The Kenyahs always 

 observe the movements of this hawk with keen 

 interest, for by a well-established code of rules 

 they interpret his movements in the heavens as 

 signs by which they must be guided in many 

 matters of moment, especially in the conduct of 

 warlike or any other dangerous expeditions.^ The 

 hawk is always spoken of and addressed as Bali 



^ In this chapter we have departed from our rule of describing first and 

 most fully the facts and beliefs of the Kayan people, because before planning 

 this book we had paid special attention to this topic, and had obtained fuller 

 information in regard to the Kenyahs than to other peoples, and had published 

 this in the form of a paper in the Journal of the Anthropological Institute 

 (*'The Relations between Men and Animals in Sarawak, "y^ Anth. Instit. 

 vol. xxxi. ). This paper, modified and corrected in detail, forms the substance 

 of this chapter. We wish to express our thanks to the Council of the Royal 

 Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland for permission to make 

 use of this paper. 



2 We find that the practices of these people in connection with omens or 

 auspices so closely resemble those of the early Romans that it seems worth 

 while to draw attention to these resemblances, and we therefore quote in foot- 

 notes some passages from Dr. Smith's Dictionary of Classical Antiquities y 

 referring to the practice of the Romans : "In the most ancient times no trans- 

 action, whether private or public, was performed without consulting the 

 auspices, and hence arose the distinction of auspicia privata and aiispicia- 

 publica.^' 



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