TWO SEA-DYAK LEGENDS. 15 



He saw a dim light in the verandah, further on, in the mid- 

 dle of the house, and he walked towards it. He wondered 

 what could have happened to all the people in the house, for not 

 long before he heard many voices. 



"This seems to be a strange house," he said to himself. 

 " When I was bathing and when I walked up to the house, it 

 seemed to be well inhabited, but now that I come in, I see no 

 one, and hear no voice." 



When Siu reached the light, he sat down on a mat there. 

 Presently he heard a woman's voice in the room say, " Sit down 

 Siu : I will bring out the pinang and sireh to you." 



Siu was very pleased to hear a human voice. Soon a young 

 and remarkably beautiful girl came out of the room with the 

 chewing ingredients, which she placed before him. 



"Here you are at last, Siu" she said, "I expected you 

 would come earlier. How is it you are so late ?" 



" I stopped a little while at the well to have a bath, as I 

 was hot and tired." 



" You must be very hungry as well," she said, "wait a mo- 

 ment while I prepare some food for you. After you have eaten 

 we can have our talk together." 



When Siu was left to himself, he wondered what it all 

 meant. Here was a long Dyak house, built for more than a 

 hundred families to live in, and yet it seemed quite deserted. 

 The only person in it appeared to be the beautiful girl who was 

 cooking his food for him. Then again, he wondered how it was 

 she knew his name and expected him that day. All these things 

 filled him with wonder and surprise. 



"Come in, Siu," said the voice from the room, "your food 

 is ready." 



Siu was very hungry and went in at once, and sat down to 

 eat his dinner. 



When they had done eating, she cleared away the plates 

 and put things back into their places and tidied the room. Then 

 she spread out a new mat for him, and brought out the pinang 

 and sireh, and bade him be seated, as she wished to have a chat 

 with him. 



Siu had many questions to ask, and as soon as they were 

 both seated, he began : — 



R. A. Soc„ No. 40, 1903. 



