32 
II YAKS OF BAN JAR MASSING. 
I>yak goes on a journey he first interrogates the Anictng Viang, 
a large bird of prey: that is to say, he goes to some secluded 
spot on a river’s bank, where he cuts away some wood, brings 
an offering of rice and pork or fowl, and then calls his No¬ 
li until he takes his significant flight over him. If the flight 
of the bird is in the direction of the contemplated journey, there 
is no need to have any further concern, and he begins his jour¬ 
ney in earnest. But if the bird flies in a contrary direction, be 
abandons his undertaking, at least for that day: however much 
may occasionally depend on the speed of his journey: and conti¬ 
nues to go with his meals to the antang , and every time with a 
more pressing invitation, till it, finally, satisfies the desire of his 
heart, and starts towards the intended point.* 
The Dyak also makes offerings on the occurrence of sickness, 
when the blians must again be present, who, besides the obser¬ 
vance of the ceremonies, seek to sustain the patient by singing and 
heating the tambourine. This, however, is often attended with an 
opposite effect, for the patient by the continued noise, day and 
night, is all the speedier sent to his grave. 
It often happens too that a dream gives occasion to sacrifices. 
'When, for example, I once went into the house of my neighbour, 
the mistress of the house related to me, that in the preceeding night 
a ghost appeared in a dream, which had enjoined her to slaughter 
and offer her largest hog; and although I look the greatest pains 
to enlighten her on this subject, and however much the woman was 
wedded to money and goods, the behest of the ghost had to he 
complied with. In the same evening a heavy shot was discharged 
before the house, a signal to all friends and neighbours that they 
had to expect something on the following morning; and scarcely 
was the red of dawn visible when they dragged the animal to the 
* The Sibnowan fiyaks appear to be devoid of this superstition. (Sec 
Expedition to Borneo, voi. 1. P- 60) Dr. Leyden, who writes on the autho¬ 
rity of Hadennaehcr, Dalrymple, Forrest and Burn, says, They hold 
particular kinds of birds in high veneration, and draw omens from Urn 
sounds which they utter, and from their flights. One of the principal ol 
these is a large species of'white headed kite, which preys on fish, snakes, 
and vermin. In all their wars, journeys and in short all matters or impor¬ 
tance, they pay the utmost attention to the omens of birds, and sometimes 
too they endeavour to penetrate the secrets ol futurity by consulting the en¬ 
trails of birds.' 1 —Ed, 
