I70 PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO chap. 



busying themselves in preparing boats and weapons. 

 The chief, or some deputy, then performs the rites 

 before the altar-post of the war-god that stands 

 before the house in the way described in Chap. XV. 

 The omens given by the hawks on this occasion 

 are guarantees for the safety of the house and those 

 left in it, and against accidents and sickness 

 incidental to the journey ; they have no reference 

 to the actual fighting.^ All the men of the war- 

 party then proceed in their war-boats to the spot 

 where the war - omens have been observed, and 

 camp round about it in roughly built huts. Here 

 they will remain at least two days, establishing 

 their connection with the favourable omen -birds. 

 From this encampment they may not return to the 

 house, and, if they are expecting a party of allies^ 

 they may await them here. By this time the war- 

 fever is raging among them, and rumours of the 

 preparations of the enemy are circulating. Spies 

 or scouts may be sent out to seek information 

 about the enemy ; but usually such information is 

 sought from the liver of a pig with the customary 

 ceremony. A sharp ridge on the liver dividing 

 their own region from that of the enemy is 

 unfavourable, a low soft ridge is favourable. 



From the moment of leaving the village the men 

 of the war-party must observe many tabus until 

 their return home. They may not eat the head of 

 a fish ; they must use only their home-made earthen 



^ There is no reason to suppose that the Kayan augurs have not complete 

 faith in the significance of the omens, and in the reality of the protection 

 afforded by the favourable omen-birds, which they speak of as upholding 

 them. Nevertheless, there can be no doubt that the strong faith of the people 

 in the omen-birds, and the awe inspired by them, is very favourable to the 

 maintenance of discipline and obedience to the chiefs, and that this fact is 

 appreciated by the chiefs. The cult of the omen-birds, which hampers the 

 undertakings of these peoples at almost every turn, and which might seem to 

 be wholly foolish and detrimental, thus brings two great practical advantages : 

 namely, it inspires confidence, and it promotes discipline and a strong sense 

 of collective unity and responsibility. It is not improbable, then, that the 

 advantages of this seemingly senseless cult outweigh its drawbacks, which in 

 the shape of endless delays and changes of plans are by no means small. 



