ANIMISTIC BELIEFS 75 



this never occurs. He dwells in a house far away. 

 Laki Neho also has a house that is covered with 

 palm leaves and frayed sticks. It is in a tree-top, 

 yet it is beside a river, and has a landing-place 

 before it like every Kayan house. This house is 

 sometimes seen in dreams. It is not so far away 

 as the house of Laki Tenangan. At first our 

 informant said that help is asked directly of Laki 

 Neho ; but, when pressed, he said that Laki Neho 

 may carry the message to Laki Tenangan. Some 

 things Laki Neho does of his own will and power ; 

 for example, if a branch were likely to fall on a 

 Kayan boat he would prevent it, for Laki Tenangan 

 long ago taught him how to do such things. When 

 a man is sick, Kayans appeal to Laki Neho ; but if 

 he does not make the patient well they then appeal 

 to Laki Tenangan directly, killing a pig, whose 

 spirit goes first to the house of Laki Neho, and 

 then on to the more distant house of Laki Tenangan. 

 For they believe that in such a case the patient 

 has somehow offended Laki Neho by disregarding 

 or misreading his omens. A man suffering from 

 chronic disease may himself pray to Laki Tenangan. 

 He lights a fire and kills a fowl, and perhaps a pig 

 also, and calls upon Laki Neho to be his witness 

 and messenger. He holds an egg in one hand and 

 says, "This is for you to eat, carry my message 

 direct to Laki Tenangan that I may get well and 

 live and bring up my children, who shall be taught 

 my occupations and the true customs." The fire is 

 lighted to make Laki Neho warm and energetic. 



It will be seen from the above account that the 

 Kayans have formed a concept of the power of the 

 hawks in general, and have given it a semi- 

 anthropomorphic character, and we shall see below 

 that the Sea Dayaks have carried this process still 

 further. 



