ABSTINENCE FROM ANIMAL FOOD. 265 



the Sarawak, than amongst those of the Southern 

 stream, where the old Polynesian customs are more 

 venerated. Thus it is that the Pamali is less practised 

 amongst the former than amongst the latter tribes ; and 

 from this we are led to infer that this country was, most 

 likely, the boundary of the spread of the religion of the 

 Brahmins, and that its influence had not extended to 

 the eastward, as the Dyaks of Sadong retain but few 

 traces of its existence, and those of Sakarran and Sarebas 

 none at all. Some of the tribes of the Sadong River, 

 situated farthest to the eastward, are said to bury their 

 dead, as do all the Dyak tribes beyond them. 



The ox, the buffalo, the deer, the goat, fowls 

 and some kinds of vegetables, are forbidden food to 

 some or other of these tribes. Of these animals, those 

 which are held most sacred are the bull and cow, and 

 nothing would induce a Dyak of any of the tribes 

 of Sarawak, to eat anything into the composition or 

 cooking of which either the flesh of the animal, or 

 any part of its productions has entered ; so that, if 

 offered any of the food which has been prepared for 

 an European, they immediately ask if it has been 

 cooked with butter or ghee ; in which case they will 

 not partake of it. So strongly is this superstitious 

 prejudice rooted in their minds, that Dyaks, who have 

 become Mahomedans at the age of five to seven years, 

 and who since that period had resided among Malays, 

 still adhered to the practice ; and at the feasts of 

 these latter people, and when on other occasions they 

 have opportunities, never partake of such food. The 



