16 TWO SEA-DYAK LEGENDS. 



"Why are you all alone in this house? This is along 

 house, and many families must live in it ; where are the others ? 

 Why is everything so silent now ? I am sure I heard voices 

 before I entered the house ; but now I hear no sound." 



"Do not let us talk about this house or the people in it 

 for the present. I would much rather talk of other matters. 

 Tell me of your own people, and what news you bring from 

 your country." 



" There is no news to give you," Shi replied. " We have 

 been rather badly off for food, as our potatoes and yams did 

 not turn out so well this year as we hoped. " 



"Tell me, what made you come in this direction and how it 

 was you found out this house." 



"While I was hunting in the jungle to-day, I lost my way. 

 After wandering about a long time, I found a path which I 

 followed and came to this house. It was kind of you to take 

 me in and give me food. If 1 had not found this house, I 

 must have died in the jungle. To-morrow morning I must ask 

 you to show me the way to my country, and also I must beg of 

 you some food for my journey back. My mother is sure to be 

 anxious about me. She is left all alone, now that I am away. 

 My father died a long time ago, and I am her only son." 



"Do not go away as soon as to-morrow morning. Stay 

 here a few days at any rate." 



At first Siu would not consent, but she spoke so nicely to 

 him that she succeeded in persuading him to stay there at least a 

 week. Then he went out to the verandah, and she brought out 

 a mat for him to sleep on and a sheet to cover himself with. 

 As Siu was very tired, he soon fell sound asleep, and did not 

 wake up till late on the following morning. 



He saw some little children playing about the next day, 

 but he did not see any grown up people. He went into the room 

 to have his morning meal, but saw no one there, except the girl 

 he had seen the evening before. He felt very much inclined to 

 ask her again where the people of the house were, but he did 

 not do so, as she did not seem inclined to speak about them. 



Now though Siu knew it not, this was the house of the 

 great Singalang Burong, the Ruler of the Spirit World. He 

 was able to metamorphose himself and his followers into any 



Jour. Straits Branch 



