296 SEA DYAK itELl&iOtf. 



village house occupies, so as to attract the attention of any 

 casual wanderer from Hades. Such a one is supposed to see 

 the pot, and to go and regale himself from it, and be satisfied 

 without going further : and thus his thoughts are pleasantly 

 diverted from the inner seat of family life ; the room — where, 

 if permitted to enter, he might possibly, in revengeful spite, 

 carry off some of the living circle. 



The presence of the dead is desired, but only at the pro- 

 per time and in the proper way. But how are they to come 

 from Hades in the numbers desired ? Nothing easier, thinks 

 the Dyak, send a boat for them : So he despatches what is 

 called the lumpang. A piece of bamboo in which some 

 rice has been boiled is made into a tiny boat, which, by the aid 

 of the wailer, who is again fetched, is sent to Hades. Actual- 

 ly, it is thrown away behind the house ; spiritually, it is sup- 

 posed by the incantation of the wailer to be transmitted to the 

 unseen realm through the instrumentality of the king of all 

 the fishes, who accomplishes the journey without much trou- 

 ble. But in Hades he dare not ascend the great river of the 

 dead beyond the first landing place, where he leaves the mystic 

 craft together with food and drink. No sooner is this done 

 than the stream beccmes dammed up and overflows its banks. 

 The curious boat is seen floating upon the swollen waters, but 

 no one knows what it is. At length a water nymph rises out 

 of tl e river, and tells them that the strange craft, which by 

 this time has grown frbrn the size of a toy to a mighty war- 

 boat, has been sent by their living friends for their passage 

 across the styx to partake of a final banquet. Great is the 

 joy of Hades on discovering this. 



" Their shouts reach beyond the clouds. 

 " They incite each other like men preparing the drums. 

 ' ; With joy they thump their breasts. 

 " With gladness they slap their thighs. 

 " We shall soon feast below the star-sprinkled heavens. 

 " We shall soon eat where the roaring thunder falls. 

 " We shall soon feed below the suspended moon. 

 " We shall soon be on our way to visit the world, and march 

 " to the feast." 



With this contrivance, the way is now open for the 



