SEA-DYAK LEGEND, 73 



He saw the animal a little distance ahead of him and fol- 

 lowed it leisurely. There was no need for haste, as he would 

 be able to kill it easily enough when he drove it to the end of 

 the cave and it had no means of escape. The cave seemed to 

 extend a great way into the mountain. After a few hours 

 walking Pulang-Gana was surprised to come to an opening in 

 the rock through which the porcupine had evidently escaped. 

 Outside the sun was shining brightly. Pulang-Gana went 

 through this opening, but though he looked in all directions he 

 could see no signs of the porcupine. 



He was uncertain what he ought to do next. The porcu- 

 pine had escaped and there was no chance of his being able to 

 kill it. He did not feel inclined to return to his brothers 

 because they were all unkind to him. On the other hand, he 

 did not know if this new country in which he found himself was 

 inhabited, and if inhabited, whether the people would treat him 

 kindly. He looked around and saw smoke arising some distance 

 off, and guessed that there was a Dyak house there. As he was 

 hungry he decided to go to it hoping that the inmates would be 

 kind to him and give him food. 



As Pulang-Gana came nearer he saw that the house was a 

 very long one inhabited by about one hundred families. He 

 stopped at the bottom of the ladder leading up to the house, 

 and following the Dyak custom, asked in a loud voice if he 

 might walk up. 



"Yes, come up Pulang-Gana" said some one in reply. 

 " We have been expecting you for some time and will be glad 

 to see you." 



He was surprised that his name should be known in 

 this strange country in which he had never been before. He 

 walked up and in the long open room stretching the whole 

 length of the house, he saw an old man and a young and 

 beautiful girl. 



"Spread out a mat, my daughter," the old man said, "that 

 Pulang-Gana may sit and rest after his long journey, and you 

 can prepare some food for him, no doubt he is hungry as well 

 as tired." 



R. A. Soc, No. 45, 1905. 



