GUARDIANS OF THE DEAD 351 



a value of f. 15,000, and he was informed that the most 

 valuable blangas were buried in the wilds at places 

 known only to the owner. No European had been there 

 since Schwaner, over thirty years previously, passed the 

 river. 



In front of another house was a group of very old- 

 looking stones which are considered to be alive, though 

 such is not the belief with reference to all stones, informa- 

 tion in that regard being derived from dreams. Those 

 on view here are regarded as slaves (or soldiers) of a 

 raja, who is represented by a small kapatong which pre- 

 sides in a diminutive, half-tumbled-down house, and who 

 is possessed by a good antoh that may appear in human 

 shape at night. When the people of the kampong need 

 rice or have any other wish, a fowl or pig is killed; the 

 blood is smeared on the raja and on the slaves, and some 

 of the meat is deposited in a jar standing next to him. 

 When advised of what is wanted the raja gives the slaves 

 orders to see that the people are supplied. 



At each side of the base of a ladder, a little further 

 on, stood a post with a carving of a tiger-cat grasping 

 a human head and guarding the entrance. They are 

 a protection to the owner of the house against evil an- 

 tohs; it is as if they were saying: "Keep away, antoh ! 

 You see I slew a man, so you know what will happen to 

 you!" 



The bones of dead persons were kept at the back of 

 at least one dwelling, inside the appropriate small house 

 provided for the purpose, and some curious kapatongs of 

 large size were to be seen, some of which had guarded the 



