138 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



From the moon came a creeper, which hanging from 

 the tree became mated with it through the action of 

 the wind/ From this union were born Kaluban 

 Gai and Kalubi Angai, the first human beings, male 

 and female. These were incomplete, lacking the 

 legs and lower half of their trunks, so that their 

 entrails hung loose and exposed. Leaves falling 

 from the tree became the various species of birds 

 and winged insects, and from the fallen fruits sprang 

 the fourfooted beasts. Resin, oozing from the trunk 

 of the tree, gave rise to the domestic pig and fowl, 

 two species which are distinguished by their under- 

 standing of matters that remain hidden from all 

 others, even from human beings. The first in- 

 complete human beings produced Pengok Ngai and 

 Katira Murei\ the latter bore a son, Batang Uta 

 Tataiy who married Ajai Aval and begot Sijau 

 Laho, Oding Lahang, Pabalan, Pliban, and Tokongy 

 who became the progenitors of the various existing 

 peoples. Oding Lahang is claimed as their ancestor 

 by the Kayans, and also by the Kenyahs and some 

 of the Klemantan tribes. 



Tokong is claimed as ancestor by the Sebops (a 

 tribe of Klemantans) and by the Punans. The 

 former attribute to him the introduction of head 

 hunting. The story goes that once upon a time, 

 when Tokong and his people were preparing to 

 attack a village, he was addressed by the frog, who 

 called out, " Wong ka kok, tetak batok^ This fairly 

 represents the cry of this species of frog {Bufo) ; 

 and tetak batok in the Sebop language means " cut 

 through the neck." At first the people, who hitherto 

 had taken only the hair of their enemies to adorn 

 their shields, scoffed at this advice ; but the frog 

 assured them that the taking of heads would bring 



elaborate carving which, in spite of many minor variations, is of only two 

 fundamental types, is or was at one time connected with this myth. But we 

 have not been able to get any statement to this effect. 

 ^ The creeper is here regarded as the male partner. 



