28 TWO SEA-DYAK LEGENDS. 



am willing to help you and to give you prosperity, but I expect 

 due respect to be paid to me, and will not allow my commands 

 to be disobeyed.'' 



Then Singalang Burong presented them with many charms 

 to take away with them. These were of various kinds. Some 

 had the power to make the owner brave and fortunate in war. 

 Others were to preserve him in good health, or to make him 

 successful in his paddy planting and cause him to have good 

 harvests. 



Sin and Serag anting then bade their friends farewell, and 

 started to return. As soon as they had descended the ladder 

 of the house of Singalang Burong, they were swiftly transported 

 through the air by some mysterious power, and in a moment 

 they found themselves at the bathing place of their own 

 house. 



Their friends crowded round them, glad to see them back, 

 safe and well. They were taken with much rejoicing to the 

 house. Friends and neighbours were told of their return, and a 

 great meeting was held that evening. x\ll gathered round the 

 two adventurers, who told them of their strange experiences 

 in the far country of the Spirit Birds. The charms received 

 from .Singalang Burong were handed round for general ad- 

 miration. The new seed paddy was produced, and the good 

 qualities of Rice as an article of food explained. The people 

 congregated there had never seen paddy before, but all deter- 

 mined to be guided by Siu and Seragnnting, and to plant it in 

 future. The different names of the Sacred Birds were told to 

 the assembled people, and all were warned to pay due respect to 

 their cries. 



And so, according to the ancient legend, ended the old 

 primitive life of the Dyak, when he lived upon such poor food as 

 the fruits of the jungle, and any yams and potatoes he happened to 

 plant near his house; the old blind existence, in which there 

 was nothing- to guide Lim ; and then began his new life, in which 

 he advanced forward a step, and learnt to have regularly, year 

 by year, his seed-time and harvest, and to know that there were 

 unseen powers ruling the Universe, whose will might be learnt 

 by mankind, and obedience to whom would bring success and 

 happiness. 



Jour. Strajts Branch 



