]04 
THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE DYAKS. 
stance however the most, as it has been sufficiently ascertained 
here by dissection. But notwithstanding the plausibility of 
those reasons, the Dyaks have a great deal to say against it, 
and are perfectly convinced, of their red antang (two sorts of 
white and of black antangs also found here, are less generally 
revered) being at home a good Nabi , and on a journey a 
faithful guide and patron. He then is also of higher des¬ 
cent than he would appear if seen going his rounds with a 
hungry stomach, and greedily giving chase to every thing 
living, to rats, frogs, and other vermin, to which persons 
of high descent evince a great aversion and always give signs 
of uneasiness on merely hearing those objects mentioned. 
The ancestor “ Tato” of that respectable family of antangs, 
is a certain Sambila-Tiong , or rich son of a Kahaian chief¬ 
tain of ancient times. This Sambila-Tiong is the first who 
pursued the practise so general in latter times among the 
Dyaks, of cutting off heads. His mother instigated him to it 
on the demise of her husband, when she refused to tirru 
before he had found the head of a man, with which to decorate 
the feast, whilst the soul of the beheaded was to be given to 
the deceased chief as a slave, to accompany him to the lewei- 
lian . Sambila-Tiong was obedient to the command of his 
mother. One clay at an early hour in the morning he took 
his lunju and mandan (spear and sword,) some boiled rice 
rolled in pisang leaves, and took his way along a narrow and 
solitary path towards the neighbouring mountains. Arrived 
there he hid himself among the brushwood close to the patf?, 
watching eagerly for his prey. After waiting for some time a 
traveller appeared beneath at the brook, carrying a load on 
his back. Having passed, wading the rivulet, he advanced 
quickly and heedless towards the spot where Sambila-Tiong 
was concealed. The latter moved not, but let the poor 
stranger quietly pass over, and then suddenly throwing him¬ 
self from behind upon his victim, pierced him with his lunju 
in the side, upon which he struggling fell forward to the 
ground. 
Defence was impossible, before the mortally man wounded 
had recovered his spirits, the sharp two feet long mandan was 
through his neck, and the severed head rolled to the feet of the 
murderer. Eagerly grasped the latter the head by its long 
disentangled hair, and placing it in his rambat (a small oblong 
basket, exclusively used by males on a journey) returned 
home with his prey the same day, where his mother was wait¬ 
ing for him. The necessary preparations for the tiwa now 
were made without loss of time, and when all was ready 
