CHAPTER XVIII 



CHILDHOOD AND YOUTH OF A KAYAN 



From the time that the parents of a Kayan 

 become aware of his existence they faithfully 

 observe, without intermission until his appearance 

 in the world, certain tabus. Or, in their own 

 language, they are malan and certain things and 

 acts are lali for them. The belief that the child 

 will resemble in some degree the things which 

 arrest the glance of his mother while she carries him 

 (lemali) is unquestioningly held and acted upon ; 

 hence the expectant woman seeks to avoid seeing 

 all disagreeable and uncanny objects, more 

 especially the Maias and the long-nosed monkey ; 

 she observes also the tabus imposed upon sick 

 women in general, and besides these a number of 

 other tabus peculiar to her condition, most of which 

 apply to acts or situations which may symbolise any 

 difficulty in delivery of the child ; for example, she 

 must not tie knots, she must not thrust her hand 

 into any narrow hole to pull anything out. The 

 tabus of the latter class are observed by the husband 

 even more strictly, if possible, than by the wife. The 

 woman must also avoid certain kinds of flesh and 

 fish. It frequently happens that the woman begins 

 to crave to eat a peculiar soapy earth {batu krap^, 

 and this is generally supplied to her. 



The woman will also take positive measures to 

 ensure the prosperous course of her pregnancy and 



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