254 THEIR SUPERSTITION. 



they used in their ascent of the hill ; nor was I 

 fortunate enough to find the tracks of animals, to 

 undeceive them on this point. 



On all feasts which have connection with war, the 

 Triu and Kamang are invoked to be present, and a 

 portion of the food is set apart for them, as on other 

 occasions for the god, Tuppa, who is supposed not 

 to attend with the Kamang and Triu, since his more 

 pure and beneficent nature looks upon war with horror 

 and disgust. The offerings to the Kamang and Triu 

 remain exposed four days and nights, after which 

 they are eaten, in a decaying state, by the Dyaks, 

 who by doing this, suppose they perform a sacred duty. 



At their feasts on less warlike occasions, their more 

 powerful and good spirits are petitioned by prayer and 

 supplication to be present ; but as these festivals are 

 intimately connected with their religious observances, 

 I will in this place describe one which was made on 

 my arrival at the village of the Sebongoh Hill Dyaks, in 

 August, 1845, in honour of the first European visit 

 to them. After having consented to remain while 

 the chief collected the tribe, I sat down in the verandah 

 of the house, which had been prepared for my reception 

 by being covered with fine white Sirhassan mats : similar 

 ones were also strewed from my boat to the houses, 

 which are built on the banks of the river, so that I might 

 not soil my feet in the ascent to them. Soon after I 

 was seated, the Orang Kaya (chief of a village) requested 

 me to give them a little piece of cloth, and a small silver 

 coin they wishing to cut off the string of a pillow- 



