ii6 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



returned, and all were quite friendly in their man- 

 ners. 



We asked the kapala if he could have the people dance 

 in order that we might photograph them, but he said that 

 would not be possible unless a feast were made, a neces- 

 sary part of which would be the sacrifice of a babi (pig), 

 whereupon an agreement was easily reached that I should 

 pay for the babi six florins, and that the Murungs should 

 perform. The feast was held one day later and was more 

 interesting than I had expected. It took place in front 

 of the house where the kapala resided, and here a sacred 

 pillar stood, by the Katingans and others called kapa- 

 tong, erected on the occasion of a death. 



A striking feature in Dayak kampongs, especially in 

 remote regions, is the presence of such upright pillars, 

 carved more or less completely into human form and 

 standing before the houses. These are invariably for 

 the benefit of a dead person whom they guard, and if the 

 deceased was well provided with earthly goods two or 

 three are furnished. They are made of ironwood and 

 often higher than a man, but usually only the upper part 

 is actually worked into shape, though many instances 

 are observed of smaller statues the entire surface of which 

 is crudely carved. When a death occurs many duties 

 are incumbent on the surviving relatives, one of the first 

 being to make the kapatong, the soul of which waits on 

 and guards the soul of the dcj)arted one. 



A good-sized domestic pig had been brought in de- 

 pendent from a long pole about which its feet had been 

 tied, and it was deposited at tlic base of the kapatong. 



