23-i 



THE NICOBARESE 



On the other hand, it is not at all impossible, in view of 

 the natives' acquisitiveness of foreign ideas, that most of their 

 practices arise from a corrupted interpretation of the, in other 

 respects, futile teachings of the numerous missionaries who 

 have laboured in vain in the islands, complicated by an addi- 

 tional jumble of tenets adopted from other strangers with whom 

 they have come into contact, while, in particular, the figures, 

 pictures, and charms of many localities may be to some extent 



Female Talisman (Kachal). Female Talisman, "Kario" (Nankauri). 



merely a degraded survival of the religious paraphernalia of 



the Jesuit missionaries. 



religious beliefs of the Dyaks, and regarded with superstitious veneration ; 

 they should, perhaps, rather be called talismans, as they are looked upon as 

 charms to keep away evil spirits and ill-luck." — P. 32, Headhiinters of Borneo, 

 by Carl Bock. 



(/) " Although I found in a house at Old Affara (a village on Vorkay, one of 

 the southernmost of the Arrus) an image rudely formed of wood, together with a 

 post on which different figures, such as snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and human 

 forms, were carved, and which the owner stated to be intended for preserving 

 the house from evil spirits {Sivangi), yet it is evident that the Arafuras of 

 Vorkay possess no religion whatsoever. . . . They certainly hold a feast at the 

 time in which they have perceived that the Christians of Wamma hold one also, 

 namely, at the commencement of the year, when they, in imitation of the Chris- 

 tians, celebrate the advent of the new year. ... Of the immortality of the soul 

 they have not the least conception." — Koff's Voyage of the Dourga, p. 161. 



{g) "The Battas believe in demonic agency called Begu for every species of 

 malady. ... To drive out these demon monsters . . . talismans and charms 

 are employed." — Featherman's Social History of Mankind. 



