SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS 233 



municating with the spirits, and by means of certain ceremonies, 

 in conjunction with the use of rods, particular leaves, and ashes, 

 periodically, by open warfare and by magic, drive the malignant 

 demons from such places in man's neighbourhood as they may 

 have intruded into, or defeat them when prevailing disease or 

 misfortune can be traced to their agency. 



These practices and beliefs, which it would be incorrect 

 to class together under the name of religion, are not accom- 

 panied by any moral element. Their code of ethics has no 

 connection whatever with the form of malevolent spiritualism 

 which they entertain, but is entirely an affair of public opinion 

 and social convention. 



The cult of the natives as it exists in the south, with its 

 multiplicity of charms, "medicine," and demon-scaring figures 

 and objects, is probably only an isolated case of a practice 

 widely spread throughout the Malayan Archipelago — in Sumatra, 

 Borneo, and other islands, and even amongst the Papuans still 

 further east.* 



* (a) " On the path, at no great distance from the (Dyak) village, rude wooden 

 figures of a man and woman are placed, one on each side opposite to each other, 

 with short wooden spears in their mouths. They are called Tebudo, and are 

 said to be inhabited by friendly hantu (spirits) who keep the path clear of 

 inimical spirits." — Chalmers. 



{b) " The Bedajoe possess a multitude of large wooden idols called Hampa- 

 tong, as well as other objects which cult or superstition has consecrated. Every 

 habitation of this tribe, as well as those of the Dusuns, has several small wooden 

 idols who are supposed to guard the habitation, protect the rice harvest, preserve 

 the inhabitants against sickness, and to fulfil generally analogous functions. 

 The Dyaks collect, with the same object, skulls of monkeys, bears, and wild 

 cats, which they preserve in little boxes called kamontoha^ and which they 

 suspend in the houses." — S. Miiller. 



(c) "As far as we could learn, the only act of worship paid these images is 

 that of offering them food once or twice a month, such as rice, pork, eggs, fowls. 

 On no condition will they (Dyaks) consent to give them up, and the only reason 

 assigned is that sickness will be the inevitable consequence." — Doty. 



id) "The inland tribes of Borneo are without any definite forms of religious 

 worship ; they make idols of wood, but I have never seen any offerings made to 

 them, nor do they regard them apparently as anything more than scarecrows to 

 frighten off evil spirits." — Folklore in Borneo^ by W. H. Furness. 



{e) " These figures {tambatongs) are not exactly idols in the ordinary sense 

 of the word, as they are not directly worshipped, although representing the 



