140 PETAIIA, OR SEA DYAK GODS. 



length, as putting on their finest garments and most valuable orna- 

 ments — brass rings round their bodies, necklaces of precious 

 stones, earrings and head decorations, beads and hawkbells, and 

 everything, in short, to delight femiuine taste and beaut} r . Then 

 the male Petaras do the same, and equip themselves with waist- 

 cloth, coat and turban, and brass ornaments on arms and legs. A 

 start is then made with several of the goddesses, renowned for 

 their knowledge of the way as guides, to lead the way ; but these 

 prove to be sadly at fault, for, after going some distance, they find 

 the road leads to nowhere, and they have to retrace their steps, 

 and go by way of the sun and moon and stars ; and from the stars 

 they get at some peculiar grassy spot, where they find a trunk of 

 a fallen tree down which they walk to our lower regions. Here 

 they sing how these Petavas from the skies are joined by all the 

 Petaras of the hills and trees and lowlands, and by Salampandai : 

 and then all together, in one motley company, they wend their way 

 to the house where the JBesant is being made. Just as a Dyak 

 would bathe after coming from a long walk, so these gods and 

 goddesses are described as bathing, and their beauty descanted 

 upon. Their approach to the house I pass over, but just before 

 going up the ladder into it, the elder Petaras think it necessary to 

 give a moral admonition to the whole company : — 



Ka obi rumah anang meda ; 



TJnggai ~ka ngumbai ngiga serenti jani. 

 Ka gal eng gang anang nentang ; 



TJnggai ha ngumbai ngiga tugang manoh laJci. 

 Ka ruai anang namjpai; 



TJnggai lea ngumbai ngiga lalci. 

 Ka bilih anang nilik ; 



TJnggai lea ngumbai ngiga tajau menyadi. 

 Ka sadau anang ngilau ; 



TJnggai ha ngumbai ngiga padi. 



To the space under the house do not look ; 



Lest they should think you seek a pig's tusk. 

 To the henroost do not sit opposite ; 



Lest they should think you seek a tail feather of the 

 fighting cock. 



