74 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



regards these as much less important and as recent 

 innovations. 



We do not know of any other animals to which 

 especial respect or attention is paid by the Kenyahs. 



Animal Cults of the Kayans 



The white-headed hawk (Bali Flaki) of the 

 Kenyahs has its equivalent among the Kayans in 

 the large dark-brown hawk, which they call Laki 

 Neho. But as it is not possible to distinguish these 

 two kinds of hawks when seen flying at some dis- 

 tance, they address and accept all large hawks seen 

 in the distance as Laki Neho. 



The function and powers of Laki Neho seem to 

 be almost identical with those of Bali Flaki. He is 

 a giver of omens and a bringer of messages from 

 Laki Tenangan. The following notes of a conver- 

 sation with an intelligent Kayan chief will give 

 some idea of his attitude towards Laki Neho. It 

 must be remembered that these people have no 

 priesthood and no dogmatic theologians to define 

 and formulate beliefs, so that their ideas as to the 

 nature of their gods and their abodes and powers 

 are, though perhaps more concrete, at least as 

 various in the minds of different individuals as are 

 the corresponding ideas among the average adherents 

 of more highly developed forms of religion ; and 

 perhaps no two men will agree exactly on these 

 matters, and any one man will freely contradict his 

 own statements. 



Laki Tenangan is an old man with long white 

 hair who speaks Kayan and has a wife, Doh 

 Tenangan. They sometimes see him in dreams, 

 and if fortunate they may then see his face,^ but 

 if unlucky they see his back only. In olden times 

 powerful men sometimes spoke with him, but now 



'■ This phrase as commonly used implies the exchange of greetings. 



