138 PETARA, OR SEA DYAK GODS. 



From the Pleiades ( 1 ), like the glistening patterns of the long 



flowing turbans, looks also Petara Guy ok. 

 'Trom the Milky Way ( 2 ), like golden rings of the nabau 



snake, Petara Badau is observing. 

 From the rainbow ( 3 ) also, beautiful in dying like the feet of 



an opened box, Petara Menani is looking and bending. 

 From the moon, like a fasting earring also, Petara Tebaran 



is looking. 

 From the sun beautiful in setting, like the hanging segundi (*) 



of the manangs, our Petara is bending down. 

 From the end of heaven, like the binding band of the tanggi, 



Petara Megit is looking. 

 From the evening star as big as the bud of the red hibiscus, 



Petara Megu is looking. 



Odd and ludicrous as this is, in its comparison of great things 

 with small, its teaching is very clear. As men have their personal 

 tutelary deities, so have the different parts of the natural world. 

 The soil, the hills, and the trees have their gods, through whose 

 guardianship they produce their fruits. And the sun, moon, stars, 

 and clouds are peopled with deities, whose favour is invoked, whose 

 look in itself is supposed to convey a blessing. 



But these Petaras are very human-like gods ; for they are re- 

 presented as making answer to the supplications of the manangs — 

 " How shall we not look after and guard the child, for next year ( 5 ) 

 " you will make us a grand feast of rice and pork, and fish, and 

 " venison, cakes and drink : " — carnal gods delighting in a good 

 feed, such as the Dyaks themselves keenly appreciate. 



In this way the attention of these Petaras is supposed to have 

 been aroused, and a promise to undertake the child's welfare 

 obtained. At this point, according to the assertions of the manangs, 



( x ) Literally : " the many stars, " i.e., many in one cluster. 



( 2 ) Literally : " the high ridges of long drought." 



( 3 ) " Dinding ari," "protection of the day," is a small part of 



the rainbow appearing just above the horizon. The 

 whole bow is called " Anak Eaja." 



(*) " Segundi," a vessel used by the manangs in their incanta- 

 tions on behalf of the sick. 



( 5 ) This refers to the concluding half of the ceremony which is 

 performed at some subsequent times. 



