178 TWO RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES. 
Presently sounds of seuffling of clashing of weapons and of 
shouting are heard by the Dayaks outside and soon after the 
door is opened and the demon is said to be dead. He was 
cheated into coming to plague his victim as usual and to 
instead of the sick and helpless patient he encounters the 
crafty and mighty manangs_ who have killed him. Further they 
have a ceremony called the ° Bibandoung api’ (displaying fire) 
“The patient is laid on the verandah and several small fires 
are made round him. The manangs pretend to dissect his 
body and fan the flames towards him to drive away the 
sickness. | . 
On a careful comparison of the Milano ceremonies with 
the account of Sea Dayak religion as given by the Archdeacon 
it becomes evident that they have much in common. The 
chief difference lies in the fact that Milanos have specialised 
in the direction of Dakanism, whereas this is scarcely known 
amongst Sea Dayaks. Now excepting within quite recent 
years Sea Dayaks and Milanos have had no relations with 
each other the former people being comparatively new comers 
to this part fo Bornes whilst the latter are often considered as 
aboriginals ; and their languages are quite distinct. We suppose 
therefore that the bayoh and the manang with their respective 
ceremonies have most likely descended from great antiquity 
and perhaps represent to us the religion of the far off common 
ancestors who lived in some other part of Eastern Asia. 
II. The Plato Ceremony. 
- One of the most interesting of the religious ceremonies of 
the Milanos is that known as the Plato. Unlike the Payun a 
sreat secrecy is held on the occasion and a Plato is usually 
conducted in the complete ignorance of Europeans or abhor 
foreigners who may happen to live in the neighbourhood. It 
has therefore never been mentioned in the literature on 
Milanos. 
Jour, Straits Branch 
