REPORT ON THE ISLAND OF BANK44. 33i> 
zoin is burned near one of the largest trees of the ground they have 
selected, and some customary imprecations are uttered. The con¬ 
sent or prohibition of the Antu or Bliss (these are the common de¬ 
nominations of the Rustic deities) is signified to them at night: 
certain images or representations in their dreams during the three 
next succeeding nights are considered as favourable ; others are look¬ 
ed upon as a denial, and a new spot is accordingly selected and at¬ 
tempted with the same ceremonies.* In cases of distress or misfor¬ 
tune they invoke in several districts the assistance or commiseration 
of a particular Antu or Dewa, called Akke timbang (in the same 
manner as the neighbouring islanders invoke Primisti Gurul) who 
they suppose is concealed in one of the large rivers of the island. 
The mountains, rocks and stones are likewise subjected to their seve -* 
ral Ant us. 
Not many years ago, during the prevalence of an epidemic di¬ 
sease, one of the inhabitants of a certain district exposed on an ele¬ 
vated scaffold the body of one of his deceased relations, enclosed 
in a basket ot network, in order that the Antu might satisfy himself 
on this offering and spare the rest of his relations. 
The favourable qualities in the character of the mountain-people 
shew themselves principally in the districts of Pisang, Klabbet, Sun- 
gie-bulu, Sungie-liat, Marawang and Pangkal-penang. In the ex¬ 
tensive tract of Kutto-waringin , some portions of which are more 
populous than the districts abovementioned, their habits have, in a 
great measure, been contaminated by the examples of the Lanons; 
here the sale of opium, which was carefully prohibited in the other 
districts, has also been partially permitted, during the former admi¬ 
nistration, and with other excesses, robbery and murder have some¬ 
times been committed. The constitution of society among the moun¬ 
tain people was not reduced to regularity. Dshennangs [Jennangs] 
or agents from Plembang, resided latterly in various parts, and these 
regulated most subjects of dispute according to the customs among 
the Malays, where every offence is expiated by a fine. 
* 
* Compare the similar Mintira superstition ante vol. I. p. 230, 
