58 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



intelligent Kenyah that he supposed that the hawks, 

 having been so frequently sent by Bali Penyalong 

 to give them warnings, had learnt how to do this 

 of their own will, and that sometimes they probably 

 do give them warning or encouragement independ- 

 ently without being sent by him. 



All Kenyahs hold Bali Flaki in the same peculiar 

 regard, and no individuals or sections of them claim 

 to be especially favoured by him or claim to be 

 related to him by blood or descent. 



Other Omen- Birds 



Kenyahs obtain omens of less importance from 

 several other birds. When favourable omens have 

 been given by the hawks, some prominent man is 

 always sent out to sit on the river-bank beside a 

 small fire and watch and listen for these other birds. 

 Their movements and cries are the signs which he 

 interprets as omens, confirming or weakening the 

 import of those given by the hawks. Of these 

 other omens the most regarded are those given by 

 the three species of the spider-hunter [Arachno- 

 thera Chrysogenys, A, modest a, and A. Longirostris). 

 All three species are known as "Sit" or '' Isit." 

 When travelling on the river, the Kenyahs hope to 

 see " I sit" fly across from left to right as they sit 

 facing the bow of the canoe. When this happens 

 they call out loudly, saying, " O, Isit on the left 

 hand ! Give us long life, help us in our under- 

 taking, help us to find what we are seeking, make 

 our enemies feeble." They usually stop their 

 canoes, land on the bank, and, after making a small 

 fire, say to it, " Tell Isit to help us." Each man of 

 the party will light a cigarette in order that he 



what was to happen, but simply taught them whether they were to do or not 

 to do the matter purposed ; they assigned no reason for the decision of Jupiter, 

 they simply announced — Yes or No." 



