X WAR 169 



cigarette) is lighted in the boat, and the position is 

 explained more fully to the bird, but without any 

 mention of the name of the enemy. The observers 

 then erect a hut near the omen-pole for their 

 shelter, and pass the night there before looking 

 out for the omen-bird next desired. This is the 

 trogan {Harpades Duvaucelii), which has a peculiar 

 soft trilling note and a brilliant red chest. When 

 this bird appears, it is addressed in the same way 

 as the spider-hunter ; and this second step of the 

 process is also marked by a feathered stick thrust into 

 the ground before the hut. Then they spend 

 another night in the hut hoping for significant 

 dreams. To dream of abundance of fruit (which 

 symbolises heads) is favourable ; any dream of a 

 disagreeable or fearful situation is unfavourable. 

 After a favourable dream comes the most important 

 stage of the business, the observation of the hawks. 

 They look for Laki Neho from the door of their 

 hut about nine o'clock in the morning. As soon as 

 a hawk is seen, they light a fire and call on him to 

 go to the left, waving a feathered stick in that 

 direction, and, shouting at the top of his voice, one 

 of them pours out a torrent of words addressed to 

 the hawk. If he goes out of sight towards the 

 right, they console themselves by remarking that 

 he is one of low degree, and they sit down to wait 

 for another. If two hawks are seen to fight in the 

 air, that foretells much bloodshed. They are not 

 satisfied until they see a hawk sail far away out of 

 sight towards the left. Then a break is made ; after 

 which they observe the hawks again, until they see 

 one sail out of sight towards the right. If all 

 this is accomplished without the intervention of 

 unfavourable omens, they return home to report 

 progress ; but immediately return to the hut and 

 remain there. Then for one, two, or even three 

 days, all the men of the house stay at home quietly, 



