310 DYAK DOGS AND CATS. 



after death, he be found a little longer, as from the 

 distension of the muscles in the dying agony is gene- 

 rally the case, the omen is accepted as one of prosperity 

 to the tribe in all its undertakings for the ensuing 

 season ; but if, on the contrary, the pains of the 

 slaughtered animal should cause it to contract its limbs, 

 the omen portends misfortunes to the tribe. 



Goat's flesh being, as has been elsewhere observed, 

 prohibited to the Dyaks by their customs, none of 

 these animals are kept about their villages, as is the 

 case amongst the Kyan and Sea Dyak tribes, where no 

 superstition forbids the people the use of these hardy 

 animals. Small dogs are kept occasionally, they are not so 

 well-trained or practised as those of the Sea tribes. It 

 is astonishing how such little curs can bring the fine 

 stag and the wild boar to bay, but such is the case, 

 and while the trembling deer defends himself from the 

 snapping of the curs around him, he is speared by the 

 Dyaks who have followed the dogs. It is said that the 

 deer are so terrified by the dogs, that when the Dyaks 

 come up, they find the trembling stag an easy prey, his 

 quivering limbs almost refusing him their wonted 

 support. 



A few cats, generally in a half-starved condition, are 

 found about the Dyaks' houses : they are of the Malayan 

 breed, with curled tails. Fowls are plentiful, but pre- 

 served more for sale to the Malays, than the use of 

 the families who rear them. Like the Malays and 

 others, they are more partial to the flesh of fish, which 

 the Malays bring to them in an almost putrid state, 



