134 MENGAP, THE SONG OF THE DYAK HEAD FEAST. 



Sooon after this they come to the path which leads them 

 to the house of Kling. As the whole of the performance is 

 directed to the fetching and coming of Singalang Burong, 

 naturally great effects follow upon his arrival, and such are 

 described. As soon as he enters the house the paddy chests 

 suddenly become hlled, and any holes in wall or roof close 

 themselves up, for he brings with him no lack of medicines 

 and charms. His power over the sick and old is miraculous. 

 " Old men having spoken with grandfather Lang become 

 young again : — The dumb begin to stammer out speech. 

 The blind see, the lame walk limpingly. Women with child 

 are delivered of children as big as frogs." At a certain 

 point the performer goes to the doorway of the house, and 

 pretends to receive him with great honour, waving the 

 sacrificial fowl over him. Singalang Burong is said to have 

 the white hair of old age, but the face of a youth. 



Now follows the closing scene of the ceremony called 

 " bedenjcmg" The perfomer goes along the house beginning 

 with the head man, touches each person in it, and pronounces 

 an invocation upon him. In this he is supposed to personate 

 Singalang Burong and his sons-in-law, who are believed to 

 be the real actors. Singalang Burong himself " nenjangs " 

 the headmen, and his sons-in-law the birds bless the rest. 

 The touch of the human performer and the accompanying 

 invocation are thought to effect a communication between 

 these bird spirits from the skies, and each individual being. 

 The great bird-chief and his dependents come from above to 

 give men their charms and their blessings. Upon the men 

 the performer invokes physical strength and bravery in war ; 

 and upon the women luck with paddy, cleverness in Dyak 

 feminine accomplisments, and beauty in form and complexion. 



This ceremony being over, the women go to Singalang 

 Burong (in the house of Kling according to the Mengap) 

 with " tuak " and make him drunk. When in a state of 

 insensibility his turban drops off, and out of it falls the head 

 which was procured as above related. Its appearance creates 

 a great stir in the house, and Lulong and Kumang come out 

 of the room and take it. After leaving charms and medi- 

 cines behind him and asking for things in return, Singalang 

 Burong and his company go back to the skies. 



At the feast they make certain erections at regular inter- 

 vals along the verandah of the house called " pandong " on 

 which are hung their war-charms, and swords and spears, &c. 



