CHE soliman 5 s narration* 35/ 
denoting’ agitation, the omen is bad. The cries of the other birds 
furnish omens. They have all two kinds of cries, a good and a bad ; 
the first, if heard on the right, is a decided omen favorable to the un¬ 
dertaking in view,—if heard on the left, it is uncertain. The bad 
cry heard on the left is decidedly unfavorable, and the undertaking is 
abandoned. When heard on the right, it is uncertain. A favorable 
omen, whether of flight or cry, having been obtained, they proceed 
at any time afterwards when they find it convenient, to commence 
the ladang. First, however, they make a small hut in the centre of 
the ground (pusdt ladang, navel of the l&dang) in which they place 
tippong taw dr, ddtm sdwdng, and ddwi halo, and burn kdyu ghdru , 
repeating invocations to the hdntu or spirit of the spot, asking his 
permission to fell the forest, and his favour for the crop. They re¬ 
turn next day, and commence cutting down the jungle. When it 
has lain on the ground for two months they burn it. They then 
bring the young paddy plants from the nursery to the hut, or for 
dry ground a basket of paddy, repeat their invocations to the hanfcu, 
supplicate the antangs for a good omen, cover the paddy with leaves 
of the sdwdng' and sprinkle over it tippong tawar, and then plant 
or sow it around the pusdt ladang. The males present break up 
the dry ground with sticks, and the females scatter the paddy over 
it. The crop is thrice weeded, and, when it is ripe, they, like the 
Malays, gather the grain by the hand with the aid of the tue. The 
first handful of grain that is plucked is carried to the side of the 
nearest stream, where it is tied to the upper extremity of a stick 
which is stuck in the ground. This is done to let the smdngal 
paddi see itself reflected in the water, and enjoy its coolness. They 
return to the field and gather a considerable quantity of the pdd<h 
muda (young paddy) which they carry home, husk it, and give a 
feast. 
When the harvest is finished and all the paddy has been stored 
in the lumbong parei (allang padi Mai.) every one thinks of 
what he will do next. Some remain idle at home, others go into 
the jungle to collect kayu gharu and rattans, others seek for gold, 
others go into the interior or to sea to collect heads, slaves and 
