CUSTOMS AND BELIEFS 353 



gans. They are considered good antohs, but if one of 

 the monsters devours a man arrangements are made to 

 kill it, though otherwise the natives prefer not to do so 

 and do not eat it. For the purpose of capture they use 

 a piece of strong wood, about three centimetres thick, 

 pointed at each end. A line of fibre a metre long is 

 tied to the middle, and about half a metre above the sur- 

 face of the water an ill-smelling monkey or dog is sus- 

 pended from it as bait. When swallowed by the croco- 

 dile the stick usually becomes wedged in the mouth be- 

 tween the upper and lower jaws and he is hauled ashore. 

 A few years before my visit the brother of the kapala 

 was eaten by a crocodile as he and two other Katingans 

 were fishing with a casting-net. While sitting in the 

 prahu he was attacked by the animal and dragged 

 below the surface of the water. The entire kampong 

 was incensed and believed that a bad antoh had ordered 

 the crocodile to commit the evil deed. A babi was imme- 

 diately killed and the blood sacrificed to induce a good 

 antoh to come and help them; they also danced for the 

 same purpose, while some of them prepared the material 

 with which to catch the reptile. They have been fishing 

 for crocodiles ever since, for their religion prohibits quit- 

 ting until the bait is taken either by the large fish, tapa, 

 or by the python, called sahua. When either of these 

 huge animals swallows the bait, that event is regarded as 

 a sign from a good antoh to the effect that their task is 

 finished. Many years may elapse before the message 

 comes and the kapala, who had caught fifty, must still con- 

 tinue, for twenty years if necessary, until the sign appears. 



