IN BURU. 



395 



Their houses were of the moat misemhle description, fairly 

 well-roofed but without any fiiriiitnre or conveniences, with the 

 exception of a narrow platform raised a few feet above the 

 earthen floor for sleeping on. Behind each honse I observed 

 j a small thatched structure which 

 they called the Matahm, the 

 Bacred place of the Alefuni 

 wherein, by burning dammar, 

 he propitiates the Great Spirit 

 Allah Sialla. The Matakau is 

 a small platform erected on a 

 short pole and roofed over with 

 palm-leaf thatch from whose 

 eaves all round hangs down a 

 long fringe of split-up palm 

 leaflL'ts. Inside are preserved a 

 knife, a spear, a Katt iurm or 

 thick wallcing-stick constantly 

 carried by the natives on their 

 journeys (with these they are 

 adepts at quarter-staff; I was 

 much amused by seeing two 

 children pmctising with singu- 

 lar skil] their cuts and guards, quite unconscioiis of being 

 watched), a disli containing siri, betel and chalk, and a piece of 

 scarlet cloth. Before sowing any of their lields, some of the 

 seed is always placed inside the Sratakau, dammar is burned, 

 and their ritual pertbrmed in order to secure its fructification. 



Their most dreaded and respected oatb is made, holding the 

 shai p top of a sago palm leaf in the hand, on the sacred knifo 

 and spear taken from the Matakau ; for they believe in the power 

 of these jiomali- weapons to harm them at any unguarded 

 moment. Another form of adjuration is in drinking after 

 making their declaration, water in which had been placed salt 

 (that they may melt away), a blade of Knssu-grass (that they 

 may be scarred as by its edges), a lanc42 and a knife (that 

 their bodies be pierced, cut and run through) if they havej 

 sworn falsely. 



Proceeding on our way, we camped for the night in the 

 foi-est under a canopy made of the long leaves of the sago- 



