122 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



sented by the mask enters the dancer tlirough the top of 

 his head. 



The Penihings and Long-Glats of the Maliakam have 

 an interesting behef in the existence of a friendly antoh 

 which reminded me of the superstition of the **Nokken" 

 in the rivers of Nonvay. It Hves in rivers, is very rarely 

 beheld by mortals, and the one who sees it becomes rich 

 beyond dreams of avarice. The Long-Glats call it sangi- 

 ang, a survival of Hindu influence. An old man in Long 

 Tujo is reported to have seen this antoh, and according to 

 him it had the appearance of a woman sitting under- 

 neath the water. No doubt other tribes have the same 

 belief. 



The most famous of antohs is the nagah, which may 

 be good or evil, according to the treatment received from 

 mortals, and being very powerful its help and protection 

 are sought in a manner later to be described in connec- 

 tion with my travels on the Mahakam. The nagah 

 guards underneath as well as above the surface of water 

 and earth, but the air is protected by three birds which 

 are messengers, or mail carriers, so to speak. They are 

 able to call the good antoh and carry food to him; they 

 are also attendants of man and watch over him and his 

 food. Fowls and pigs are sacrificed to them as pay- 

 ment. They are — the tingang (hornbill), the sankuvai 

 (formerly on earth but now only in heaven), and the 

 antang (red hawk). As these birds are called by the 

 same names in the tribes of the Katingans, Ot-Danums, 

 Kahayans, and others, it may be presumed that their 

 worship is widely prevalent in Hornco. 



