ANIMISTIC BELIEFS 79 



outline of a dog, and which goes by the name 

 Kalang asu ( = dog-pattern), occurs in a great variety 

 of forms in the decorative art of the Kayans, and 

 also, though to a less extent, in that of the Kenyahs. 

 It is tatued on arm and thigh, is reproduced in 

 beadwork, and carved in low relief on decorative 

 panels/ 



Neither Kayans nor Kenyahs make much use of 

 snakes of any kind, but there is one snake with red 

 head and tail [Batang lima) which, when they see it 

 in the course of a journey, they must kill, else harm 

 will befall them. Again, if they see a certain snake 

 just as they are about to enter a strange river or a 

 strange village, they will stop and light a fire on the 

 bank in order to communicate with Laki Neho. 

 Kayans will not eat any species of turtle or tortoise. 



Klemantans 



The following notes of a conversation with the 

 Orang Kaya Tumonggong, the influential chief of 

 the Long Pata people (one of the many groups of 

 Klemantans), show that these people regard the 

 hawk in much the same way as the Kenyahs do : 

 The hawk, Bali Flaki, is the messenger of " Bali 

 Utong," the Supreme Being. When a party is 

 about to set out on any expedition they explain 

 their intentions to Bali Flaki, and then observe the 

 movements of the hawks. If a hawk circles round 

 over their heads, some of the party will fall sick on 

 the journey and probably will die. If the hawk flies 

 to the right when near at hand, it is a good omen ; 

 but if it flies to the right when at a distance, or to 

 the left, whether near or far, that is a bad omen. 

 The people then light a fire and entreat the hawk 

 to give a more favourable sign, and if it persists in 

 going to the left they give up the expedition. If, 



1 See Chap. XII. 



