80 SEA-DYAK LEGEND. 



the name of Rajah Shua and of Seregendah, and they came in 

 large numbers and helped him to put up all the trees that had 

 been felled, and the forest appeared just as it had been before 

 any of the trees had been cut down. 



The next day Bui-Nasi went early in the morning to see 

 if the fish traps he had set in the stream had caught any fish, 

 and as he was near the part of the forest where the trees had 

 been cut down by his brothers and himself not long before, he 

 went on' to see how things were getting on and if the felled 

 jungle was dry enough to be burnt. 



To his great surprise he found all the trees standing, and 

 no signs of the clearing that had been made ! He hurried home 

 and told his brothers what he had seen, and they all returned, 

 accompanied by their friends and followers, and found that 

 what Bui-Nasi had told them was perfectly true. They were 

 all very much surprised as they had never known such a thing 

 happen before. 



" I wonder if this is really the part of the forest which we 

 cleared a few weeks ago," said one of the brothers. " Perhaps 

 we have mistaken the spot.'' 



" No," said Bui-Nasi in reply, " there is no mistake. Here 

 are the whetstones on which we sharpened our axes and choppers; 

 and here too*is where we did our cooking for our mid-day meal." 



They held a consultation as to what was to be done. 



" This is very strange," said Bui-Nasi. " Some enemy who 

 is helped by powerful spirits is determined not to let us plant 

 paddy here. Let us try and find out who has made the trees 

 that we have cut down stand upright and grow up again as be- 

 fore. My advice is that we cut down the jungle anew, and 

 that some of us remain and keep watch here all night. Perhaps 

 we may be able to catch the culprit." 



So the brothers and all their friends and followers set to 

 work, and before the day ended, they had cleared afresh a 

 large stretch of jungle. 



Twelve men, with Bui-Nasi at their head, were set to 

 watch, and the others returned home, discussing among them- 

 selves what had taken place. 



Jour. Straits Branch 



