I20 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



to some Malays. There are many kinds of both evil and 

 good antohs; some are male, some female, and they are 

 invisible, like the wind, hut have power to manifest 

 themselves when they desire to do so. Though some- 

 times appearing as an animal or bird, an antoh usually 

 assumes the shape of a man, though much larger than 

 an ordinary human being. Caves in the mountains are 

 favourite haunts of evil antohs. In the great rivers, like 

 the Barito and the Katingan, are many of huge size, 

 larger than those in the mountains. Trees, animals, and 

 even all lifeless objects, are possessed by antohs good or 

 bad. According to the Katingans the sun is a benevolent 

 masculine antoh which sleeps at night. The moon is a 

 feminine antoh, also beneficent. Stars are the children 

 of the sun and moon — some good, some bad. 



To drive away malevolent antohs and attract be- 

 nignant ones is the problem in the life philosophy of the 

 Dayaks. The evil ones not only make him ill and cause 

 his death, but they are at the bottom of all troubles in 

 life. In order to attract the good ones sacrifices are made 

 of a fowl, a pig, a water-buffalo, or, formerly, a slave. 

 Hens' eggs may also be proffered, but usually as adjuncts 

 tr) the sacrifice of an animal. If a child is ill the Katingan 

 makes a vow that he will give Antoh from three to seven 

 eggs or more if the child becomes well. If it fails to 

 recover the offering is not made. 



The blood is the more precious part, which the Bahau 

 of the Mahakam, and other tribes, offer plain as well as 

 mixed with uncooked rice. I he {)C()pIe cat the meat 

 themselves, but some of it is offered to the well-disposed 



