250 THE TRIU AND THE KAMANG. 



of the Arabians ; and this is the more likely, from 

 their being considered of the same nature by these people, 

 and inimical to mankind. They are thought to be 

 inhabitants of the lower regions of the air, but not 

 to ascend to the loftier residences of the good and 

 beneficent gods. The Triu and the Kamang are 

 spirits of the woods and mountains ; and the martial 

 genii of these people the Triu are inhabitants of the 

 forests and lofty hills, who constantly descend from 

 them to visit and bless the houses of their votaries, 

 whom they also accompany in their expeditions against 

 their enemies. In person, they are supposed to 

 resemble the Dyaks themselves, whom they delight in 

 benefitting. 



Far different from this mild and benevolent charac- 

 ter, is that of the genii of the hideous and savage 

 Kamang, whose joy is in the misery of mankind, 

 and who delight in war and bloodshed, and all the 

 other afflictions of the human race. They mix per- 

 sonally in the battles of their votaries, not from any 

 wish to assist them though they may be, in some 

 measure, propitiated by feasts in their honour but that 

 the carnage may be increased, for they are said to 

 inspire desperate valour. In person, they are as dis- 

 gustingly ugly as they are barbarous and cruel in their 

 dispositions : their bodies are covered, like those of the 

 Oran-utan, with long and shaggy red hair: they are 

 mis-shapen and contorted, and their favourite food 

 is the blood of the human race. They, like the spirits 

 called Triu, of whom they are supposed to be the enemies, 



