258 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



experienced men, after the lapse of a year, may resume 

 operations. In case of meeting a centipede a head- 

 hunting expedition must return immediately to the kam- 

 pong, and for four years no such enterprise may be un- 

 dertaken. 



The purposes of head-hunting are manifold. The 

 slain man is believed to change into a servant and assistant 

 in the next life. When a chief dies it becomes an essen- 

 tial duty to provide him with heads, which are deposited 

 on his grave as sacrifices, and the souls of which serve 

 him in the next life. Heads taken for the benefit of kam- 

 pong people are hung in the house of the kapala to coun- 

 teract misfortune and to confer all manner of benefits. 

 An important point is that the presence of the heads from 

 other tribes, or rather of the souls residing in them, com- 

 pels evil antohs to depart. A kampong thus becomes 

 purified, free from disease. The killing of a fowl is not 

 sufficient to accomplish this; that of a pig helps a little, 

 a water-buffalo more, but to kill a man and bring the 

 head makes the kampong completely clean. 



With the Katingans a head hanging in the house is 

 considered a far better guardian than the wooden figures 

 called kapatongs, which play an important part in the 

 life of that tribe. Any fear of resentment on the part of 

 the liao (departed soul) residing in the head is precluded 

 by their belief that the Katingan antoh gave him the 

 order to watch. 



"If no heads are brought in there will be much illness, 

 poor harvest, little fruit, fish will not come up the river 

 as far as our kampong, and the dogs will not care to pur- 



