346 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



The obliging kapala, in order to do his bit to induce 

 the people to dance, offered to present one pig if I would 

 give rice and salt. The dancing, which was performed 

 around a blanga on a mat spread on the ground, was 

 similar in character to what may be seen elsewhere in 

 Borneo. Four men and four women performed one 

 dance. In another only women took part, and they 

 moved one behind another in a circle with unusually 

 quick, short steps, signifying that good antohs had taken 

 possession of them. The principal blian later sat down 

 on a mat and sang; three women sitting near accom- 

 panied her by beating small oblong drums. They all be- 

 came enthusiastic, for music attracts good antohs. In 

 the Katingan language the word lauk means creature; 

 an additional word, earth, water, or air, as the case may 

 be, signifying whether an animal, a bird, or a fish is 

 meant. 



Having accomplished in a short time as much as 

 could be expected, we returned to Kuala Samba, and from 

 there, in the first week of January, started southward in 

 our big prahu. The river was very low, and after half an 

 hour we were compelled to take on board two Bakompai 

 men as pilots among the sand banks. At Bali the coffin 

 was found to be ready and was taken on board. It had 

 been well-made, but the colours were mostly, if not all, 

 obtained from the trader and came off easily, which was 

 somewhat disappointing. It seemed smaller than the 

 original, though the makers insisted that it was quite 

 similar and challenged me to go and see the one they had 

 copied, which was in the vicinity, behind the kampong. 



