428 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



custom. In one week, as soon as the navel is healed, two 

 or three fowls are killed, or a pig, and a small feast is 

 held at which rice brandy is served. The child is suckled 

 for one year. 



No name is given the infant until it can eat rice, 

 which is about five months after birth. At the age of 

 six years, or when it begins to take part in the work of 

 the paddi fields, fishing, etc., the name is changed. In 

 both cases the father gives the name. The kapala, my 

 informant, changed his name a third time about ten 

 years previously, when he entered the service of the gov- 

 ernment. Names are altered for the purpose of mis- 

 leading evil spirits. 



Children were few here, one reason being that abor- 

 tion is a common practice, as is instanced in the case of 

 the kapala's wife who prided herself on her success in 

 this regard on ten occasions. ^Massage as well as aborti- 

 facient herbs are employed for the purpose. The root 

 of a plant in general use is soaked in water before ad- 

 ministering. I was also shown a vine which was about 

 two centimetres in diameter and was told that if a por- 

 tion of this was cut off and the end inserted into a pint 

 bottle the vine would yield sufficient juice to fill it in a 

 night. In case children are not wanted both husband 

 and wife drink of this liquid after the morning meal, 

 and both abstain from water for the remainder of the 

 day. It is believed that afterward it would be possible 

 for the man to have offspring only by marrying a new 

 wife. There are also several specifics to prevent con- 

 ception, but none for producing fertility. The kapala 



