128 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



All the peoples observe a large number of re- 

 strictions in regard to contact with objects, especially 

 articles of food. Some of these are mentioned in 

 other chapters. Here we notice a few typical 

 instances. In Chapter XV. we related that each of 

 the peoples avoid certain animals ; in some cases 

 they avoid not only killing or touching these animals, 

 but also even very remote relations with them : as, 

 for example, taking food from a vessel in which 

 their flesh has been cooked on some previous 

 occasion ; coming within the range of the odour of 

 the object ; coming into a house in which there is 

 any part of such an animal. 



The evil resulting from breach of any such 

 prohibitions generally takes the form of wasting 

 sickness with pains in the head, chronic cough, 

 dysentery, or spitting of blood. When a Kenyah 

 has knowingly for any reason, or unintentionally, 

 come in contact with any one of the forbidden 

 objects, or if he finds himself suffering from any of 

 these things, and therefore suspects that he has 

 unwittingly come under their influence, he subjects 

 himself to a process of purification. At break of 

 day he descends, with other members of his family, 

 to the brink of the river provided with a chicken, a 

 sword-blade, two frayed sticks, and a length of spiky 

 vine known as atat. This latter is bent into the 

 form of a ring, within which he takes his stand and 

 awaits the appearance of Isit (the spider hunter — 

 one of the omen-birds). He calls it by name, Bali 

 Isit ; and as soon as Isit calls in reply, he pours out 

 a long-winded address, charging him to convey to 

 Bali Penyalong his prayer for recovery or protection. 

 Then he snips off the head of the chicken, and wipes 

 some of its blood on the frayed sticks and on the 

 ring. The ring, with the chicken and the frayed 

 sticks, are then lifted above his head by his at- 

 tendants, and water is poured upon them from a 



