ch. iv.] A Murut Reception. 65 



perhaps a few would break through and escape to tell the 

 tale. In this way a good many heads and slaves were 

 obtained, but at present the additions to the baskets are 

 more rare, and principally obtained by stealthy murders 

 rather than in warfare. The Muruts and other abori- 

 ginals are great believers in omens, and whether on head 

 hunting or pig-killing expeditions they pay great regard 

 to the cries of birds and animals ; and if they meet an 

 alligator or a snake, they at once return and wait for a 

 more propitious season. 



In travelling with these natives as guides, their careful 

 attention to omens becomes exceedingly trying to one's 

 temper, as they will stop immediately if the omens seen 

 or heard be not good ones, and if anything more than 

 ordinary duties are required of them it is astonishing 

 how soon a bad omen will put an end to all further 

 progress for the day. One place where I stayed for 

 several weeks was within half a mile of a large Murut 

 house, and their gongs could be heard very plainly some- 

 times all night when they were feasting and drinking a 

 peculiar spirit, which is made of lice and tampoe fruit 

 mixed with water and strained off for use after fermenta- 

 tion. These feasts seemed to be held on the occasion of 

 any good fortune befalling the tribe, such as success in 

 hunting pigs or deer. One night they were gong-beating 

 and shouting louder than usual. I asked the native in 

 whose house I slept the reason of this, and he told me 

 that they had been out head-hunting for a fortnight, but 

 had failed to pounce upon any Murut of another tribe ; 

 so to end the suspense they had seized one of their own 

 slaves, who had in some way offended them, and had 

 made a scapegoat of him. I visited this house some 

 days afterwards, and smoked a " roko " with the " Orang 

 Capella," or chief, while three of his lusty followers kept 



