274 SUPERSTITIONS OF THE 



ward ; but as far as is at present known, a stranger to 

 the flora of Borneo, in the western parts of which, the 

 order Amaryllidea, to which it belongs, is only repre- 

 sented by one species of Crinum, which is found on the 

 muddy banks of the river. By the Si-booyoh Sea 

 Dyaks, this plant is called Si-kenyang. By the Dyaks 

 of the southern river, the roots of this bulbous plant are 

 preserved with jealous care, being always taken up when 

 the Padi is ripe, and preserved amongst it in the grana- 

 ries, to be planted again with the seed-padi in the 

 following season. It bears a beautiful crown of white 

 and fragrant flowers, which rise about a foot above the 

 bulb ; the only plant which I saw in a flowering state 

 was at Sennah, and no consideration would induce the 

 owner to part with it. 



These and other Dyaks assert that the Padi will 

 not grow unless a plant of the Si-kudip be in the 

 field, and on being asked respecting its origin they 

 answered, that Tuppa gave it to mankind with the Padi, 

 and requested them to take care of it, which they now 

 do. The plant I saw in flower at Sennah, had a 

 bamboo altar erected over it, on which were several 

 offerings, consisting of food, water, &c. 



I think there can be little doubt that the plant has 

 been brought with the Dyaks from the country whence 

 they first emigrated to Borneo, and as it is not at 

 present known to be an inhabitant of any country west 

 of the island, it would follow that the people came from 

 the eastward, perhaps from the opposite island of 

 Celebes ; but conclusions of this nature cannot be drawn 



