154 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



delivery. At the quickening she sacrifices a young 

 pig and charges it to convey her prayer to Doh 

 Tenangan ; and on the occurrence of any untoward 

 incident, such as a fall, the prayer and sacrifice are 

 repeated. The carcases of the victims are stuck 

 upon poles before the house near her door, and the 

 inevitable feathered sticks, smeared with blood, are 

 thrust behind a roof beam in the gallery opposite 

 her door. 



In every Kayan house are certain elderly women 

 (not the Dayongs) who have a reputation for special 

 knowledge and skill in all matters connected with 

 pregnancy and childbirth. One of these is called in 

 at an early stage ; she makes from time to time a 

 careful examination of the patient's abdomen and 

 professes to secure the best position of the child. 



She has also a number of charms, which she 

 hangs in the woman's room, and various unguents, 

 which she applies externally. But all these pro- 

 cedures are surrounded by a veil of secrecy which 

 we have failed to penetrate. And, in fact, all 

 information in regard to the processes of childbirth 

 is difficult to obtain, for all Kayans are very reticent 

 on the matter, even among themselves. 



In all other respects the pregnant woman follows 

 her ordinary mode of life until the pains of labour 

 begin. Then she is attended by the wise woman 

 and several elderly relatives or friends. She sits in 

 her room which is lali to all but her attendants and 

 her husband ; and she is hidden from the latter by a 

 screen of mats. During the pains she grasps and 

 pulls on a cloth fixed to a rafter above and before 

 her. The pains seem to be severe, since the woman 

 generally groans and cries out ; but the duration of 

 labour is commonly brief, perhaps two or three 

 hours only. The attendants' great anxiety is lest 

 the child should go upward, and to prevent this they 

 tie a cloth very tightly round the patient about the 



