A SEA-DYAK TRADITION OF THE DELUGE. 291 



Spirit. Now Simpang had brought the fire-drill with him, and he 

 threw it on to the roof of the Spirit's house which flamed up into a 

 blaze at once. The great Spirit fumed, and raged and stamped, and 

 only added fury to fire. He soon bethought himself of submitting, 

 and shouted out : " Oh, Simpang, call your fire-drill back, and I will 

 pay for the padi." He recalled the fire-drill, and the flames ceased. 

 Then there was a discussion, and the Spirit said : " I have no goods 

 or money wherewith to pay you ; but from this time forth you shall 

 be a whole man, having two eyes, two ears, two cheeks, two arms, 

 two legs." Simpang was quite satisfied with this, and said no more 

 about the padi. Simpang then gave the messages with which he 

 had been instructed en the way, and the Spirit made answer : " The 

 reason why Puntang Eaga and Ensang Pengaia are not successful 

 with their sugar-canes and plantains is that they follow no proper 

 customs. Tell them never to mention the names of their father-in- 

 law, or mother-in-law, and never to walk before them ; not to marry 

 near relations, nor to have two wives, and the plantains and sugar- 

 canes will produce the usual increase. The reason why the lake 

 cannot empty itself is that there is gold where the mouth ought 

 to be. Take that away and it will have an exit. The tree I will 

 look after." The tree fell by the wind, the lake found an exit, and 

 the world went on as before. But how padi was recovered does 

 not appear; but completeness and consistency must never be 

 expected in Dyak myths. 



J. PEEHAM. 



