434 THROUGH CENTRAL BORNEO 



knuckles, he had a zigzag mark representing the excres- 

 cences of the durian fruit. In regard to the presence of 

 spirits, number of souls, blians, disease, and its cure, 

 restrictions for pregnant women, the child's cradle — the 

 ideas of the Bukats are identical with those of the Peni- 

 hings, and possibly are derived from them. 



PENIHINGS 

 (Notes from the Mahakam River) 



The Penihings get their supply of ipoh, the poison 

 for the sumpitan darts, from Punans who live at the 

 sources of the rivers of the Western Division. According 

 to native report the trees which furnish the juice do not 

 grow along the Mahakam and the nearest country where 

 they are found is to the south of Tamaloe. As is the 

 case with the Punans and Bukats, cutting the teeth is 

 optional. 



Restrictions imposed during pregnancy do not differ 

 from those of other tribes described. At childbirth no 

 man is permitted to be present. For three days the 

 mother eats boiled rice, red pepper, and barks of certain 

 trees, and she may work on the third day. Twins are 

 known to occur. As soon as the navel is healed a name 

 is given to the child. Both Penihing and Saputan, if 

 asked, are allowed to give their own names. Marriages 

 are contracted while the woman is still a child. There 

 are no marriage ceremonies and divorces are easily ob- 

 tained. If a married woman is at fault with another 

 man the two must pay the injured husband one gong, as 



