XV. MAGIC, SPELLS, AND CHARMS 127 



m 



some half-human monster. On careful examination 

 of several specimens we have found the empugau to 

 consist of a large cocoanut in its husk, tricked out 

 with a rude face mask having part of the fibrous 

 husk combed out to look like hair. The I bans 

 regard it with some awe, and it seems probable 

 that it has formerly played some part in magical 

 procedures. 



Love Charms 



Love charms are used by most of the peoples, 

 though the Kayans and Kenyahs are ex- 

 ceptions, since they prefer to rely chiefly 

 upon the power of music and personal 

 attractions. These charms are in almost 

 all cases strongly odorous substances. 

 The Iban youth strings together a neck- 

 lace of strongly scented seed known as 

 buah balong. This he generally carries 

 about with him, and, when his inclination 

 is directed towards some fair one, he places 

 it under her pillow, or endeavours to per- 

 suade her to wear it about her neck. If 

 she accepts it, he reckons her half won. 



Klemantans, among whom love charms 

 Q[o by the g^eneric name san^kil, make use 



f • r r u r u- l> r Iban Trapper's 



ot a variety of charms, of which one of charm. 

 the most used is a scented oil that they 

 contrive to smuggle on to the garments or other 

 personal property of the woman. 



Those that have had much contact with Malays 

 make use of pieces of paper on which they scrawl 

 certain conventional patterns. 



Charms are used by I bans to ensure success in 

 trapping. The trapper carries a stick one end of 

 which is carved to represent the human form (Fig. 

 2>2,). He uses this to measure the appropriate height 

 of the traps set for animals of different species. 



Fig. 83. 



