IN TIMOR. 



443 



Unui'LuU ; and near the residence of the rajah there is always 

 one large one, which is the Uma~Luli of the kingdom. As a 

 rule, however, the tribal Unm-LuU is flanked by two otherSj or 

 occasionally by more, if tlie kingdom is lar«^e. These edifices 

 almost invariuljly stand in a cloiired space, surrounded by a 

 thick fence, as here within a grove of trees on some elevated spot. 

 Within this fence no twig or branch may be broken or cut, no 

 blade of grass plucked, and no stone overturned under the fear 

 of the vengeance of the luU ; no tobacco is permitted to be 

 taken within the sacred boimdaries, and no horse or buffalo may 

 stray within it. The buildings themselves are large, carefully 

 built and tended structures of bamboo, raised above the ground 

 on pillars, and possessing two doors, one at the side and one at 

 the end. The Luli home can be at once recognised, were it 

 by nothing else than by the buffalo crania with which it is 

 decorated on the outside. 



An officer who hoMs one of the highest, and certainly the 

 most influential position in the kingdom, has charge of the 

 buildings, and presides over the sacred rites which are con- 

 ducted in them. He is known as the Dato-LuU, or Rai- 

 Luli. In times of j>eace, and on all ordinary occi^sions, an old 

 man or woman lives in the building, as a sort of care-taker ; 

 such a person is named the Lulmta, Sometimes an old man 

 and his wife reside all day in it, but they may not both — 

 being of opposite sexes — remain all night. 



It is not very ejisy to obtain a good idea of the interior 

 arrangements of the Uim~Luli, as it is impossible for heretics 

 to get within it, or often very u(?ar it. Even natives of Timor 

 who have become nominally Simni (Christian) are prohibited 

 from entering it ; but by sedulously questioning those who 

 knew, I was able t(» gather that of the two doors (whose direc- 

 tion does not seem to be a matter of importance), one is re- 

 serve I for the Dato-LuUf or chief priest, and the other for the 

 persons consulting the fates to enter. By the Data's door no 

 one but himself may enter ; it opens into a portion railed off 

 by ornamented wooden pillars from the larger portion of 

 the building, into which the people have entrance. In the 

 smaller part are preser^-ed different orticloa of veneration^ — the 

 cranium of a buffii]o,a spear, a sJueld, a chopper, a gun (almost [ 

 failing to pieces, and of an old, old jiattom, my guide told me. 



