354 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



When preparing to kill crocodiles the magic use of 

 rice is as essential as when the lives of men are to be 

 taken, proceedings in both cases being identical. If a 

 Katingan wants to get a head he must pay the blian to 

 conjure with rice — a cupful is enough — and to dance. 

 To have this done costs one or two florins. During incan- 

 tations and dancing the blian throws the rice in the 

 direction of the country where the man wants to operate. 

 By the act of throwing the rice an antoh is called to 

 assist and he causes the intended victim to become 

 stupid and forgetful, therefore easily killed. From two 

 to seven days later a start is made on the expedition, and 

 when the head is cut the rice is sure to be found inside. 



In earlier days the kampongs were ruled by hereditary 

 rajas called bakas, who held their people in firm subjec- 

 tion, and they are reported to have fought much among 

 themselves. According to the "onder" of the kam- 

 pong, it was not an unusual occurrence to murder a rich 

 man and take his goods as well as his head, and as murder 

 could not be compensated with money, his relatives hav- 

 ing to avenge the deed, a vendetta ensued which might 

 last five or six years. A custom which required a debtor 

 to become the slave of his creditor, even in the case of 

 brothers, has been abolished. 



Formerly when an enemy approached a curious mes- 

 sage was sent from kampong to kampong. To the top 

 of a spear was tied a tail feather of the rhinoceros horn- 

 bill, symbolising rapid movement, and also a woman's 

 skirt of fibre with a bunch of odoriferous leaves attached. 

 Women used to fasten these to the skirt in addition to 



