BELIEF CONCERNING THE SOUL 249 



all new ones !" In the belief of the Duhoi (Ot-Danums) 

 the liao remains with the body until the funeral-house 

 falls into decay, perhaps for twenty years, when it enters 

 the soil and "is then poor." The idea of the Penihings 

 about life after death is vague, and they do not pretend to 

 know where the soul goes. 



The Penihings acknowledge five souls, or batu, in 

 each individual: one above each eye, one at either side 

 of the chest below the arm, and one at the solar plexus. 

 The souls above the eyes are able to leave their abiding- 

 place, but the others can go only short distances. If the 

 first-named depart the person becomes ill next day, 

 the immediate cause being that a malevolent antoh, de- 

 siring to eat the victim, has entered the head through 

 the top. On perceiving this the two souls located above 

 the eyes escape and the blian is called upon to bring 

 them back, for unless they return the afflicted one will 

 die. 



A fowl or a pig, or both, may then be killed and the 

 blood collected. Some of it is smeared on the patient's 

 forehead, head, and chest, the remainder being offered to 

 antoh, both in plain form and mixed with uncooked rice, 

 as has been described on page 202. When a fowl is 

 sacrificed the empty skin, suspended from a bamboo 

 stalk, is likewise reserved for antoh, the meat having 

 been consumed, as usual, by those concerned. 



As another effective means of inducing the return of 

 the soul the blian sings for several hours during one night 

 or more. In the Penihing tribe he accompanies himself 

 by beating an especially made stringed shield. It is be- 



