126 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



which he has kept behind his ear or thrust through 

 the hole in its shell, he rejoins his host, who awaits 

 him on the dais. 



On such an occasion, and in fact on any other 

 occasion suggestive of festivity, the evening is 

 enlivened with oratory, song, and drink. After 

 supper the men gather together about the chiefs, 

 sitting in close-set ranks on and before the dais. 

 At a hint from the chief a jar of burak (rice-spirit) 

 is brought into the circle. This may be the property 

 of the chief or of any one of the principal men, who, 

 by voluntarily contributing in this way towards the 

 entertainment of the guests, maintains the honour 

 of the house and of its chief A little is poured 

 into a cup and handed to the house-chief, who first 

 makes a libation to the omen-birds and to all the 

 other friendly spiritual powers, by pouring a little 

 on to the ground through some crevice of the floor, 

 or by throwing a few drops out under the eaves, 

 saying, as he does so, *' Ho, all you friendly spirits." 

 Then he drinks a little and hands back the cup to 

 the young man who has taken charge of the jar 

 of spirit. The latter, remaining crouched upon his 

 heels, ladles out another cupful of spirit and offers 

 it in both hands to the principal guest, who drinks 

 it off, and expresses by a grunt and a smack of the 

 lips, and perhaps a shiver, his appreciation of its 

 quality. The cup is handed in similar formal fashion 

 to each of the principal guests in turn ; and then 

 more cups are brought into use, and the circulation 

 of the drink becomes more rapid and informal. 

 As soon as each man has had a drink, the house- 

 chief rises to his feet and, addressing himself to 

 his guest, expatiates upon his admirable qualities, 

 and expresses eloquently the pleasure felt by him- 

 self and his people at this visit. Then speaking in 

 parables and in indirect fashion, claiming perhaps 

 indulgence on the ground that he is merely talking 



