THE MYTHOLOGY OF THE DYAKS. 
105 
within about a month, the guests were invited in great num¬ 
bers. But lo ! what happened. When the festivity had 
reached its height, and the kampong resounded with the song of 
the Blians (dancing girls,) when shot after shot shook the 
house, in which the exulting people were crowded, the songs 
of the “ Olo 7naga lian ” (the hymn sung by the guide of the 
soul) rising higher and higher, commending the departed soul 
of the Tomogong and that of his slave, the beheaded traveller, 
to the care of Tempon-tellon, inflaming and transporting the 
spirits of the multitude : then suddenly, in the twinkling of an 
eye, Sambila-Tiong was transformed into an Antang, and, 
fluttering with bis long red wings above the heads of the 
Blians and the Olo maga lian, reached the open door. 
Escaping by it he soared aloft and gyrating in great wide 
circles above the kampong for some seconds, he then betook 
himself to the solitary shores of the danaus (inland lakes) in 
the mountains, whence subsequently his numerous descendants 
spread themselves not only over that large island, but also over 
the whole of the Indian Archipelago. 
On this fiction is founded the iiigh veneration in which the 
Antang stands among the Dyaks, who consult him in all im¬ 
portant undertakings, and never set out on a journey without 
having first assured themselves of his approbation, which he 
makes known to his votaries by bis significant flight, for 
which of course marks of gratitude are shown to him, the 
king of the airy regions, by royal banquets. After the con¬ 
clusions of these entertainments the travellers set out with 
great composure and totally careless about the things to come, 
relying on their patron, who, they are sure, will be constantly 
near them. Every one sees in him an old friend and coun¬ 
tryman, who, although elevated to a higher rank, is always 
deeply concerned in the fate of his family, and delights in 
their friendship and confidence. One point however is not 
altogether in accordance with their notion of his benevolence, 
viz., bis fondness for chickens, which is so great that he 
always carries with him a great number to his kala tangiran 
(a lofty tree.) If his visits are too frequent, the people, when 
they see him swooping down from his airy castle, place 
themselves in the doors of their houses, and deafen his ears 
with shrill cries at the utmost pitch of their voices. This is 
all that is deemed necessary; to receive him with a charge of 
small shot is a thing which nobody dreams of, probably also 
from his being considered is tago.” Great was the surprise 
of the peasants when on one occasion the writer brought one 
of their Nabis down from his tangiran with a little small 
