190 
ETHNOLOGICAL NOTES. 
during the forty days of mourning, a boat with awnings 
goes up river the mourners have a right to call to the boat 
and ask for alms (minta sedika ). If the people in the boat 
do not comply, they can be fined a “ G-angsa ” or some 
other brass utensil. Also, if a person strikes a gong (other 
than those used for mourning) near the house, on land or 
on the river, he can be fined. Boats going down river are 
not required to give alms. The old people say that at 
night when the salang is burning, if the flame burns low, it 
is a sign that a boat is passing the house with a fowl on 
board. They then have to call the boat and take some of 
the fowl’s feathers to rekindle the flame. If they neglect 
to do this, the candle will go out, which signifies bad luck. 
The above custom refers to married people only. 
The Bisayas believe in a future state, which takes the 
form of a life similar to this, but under more beneficial 
terms. They think that the land to which they will go will 
be richer and more fertile than their present abode, and 
that there they will meet all those who have gone before. 
They also believe that there is a wonderful tree growing 
there which has every kind of fruit growing on it, and a 
branch for each kind; also that as fast as the fruit falls 
more fruit springs out of its branches. 
P. C. B. Newington. 
Note on a Penggang “Melegong” 
This plate originally belonged to a Treng woman who 
was captured by a Mitting man in a raid ; afterwards, these 
tribes made peace, and the Mitting man married his captive, 
who was of high birth (bangsa Rajah). The offspring of 
this marriage was Aban Tassan, of Batu Blah, the last 
owner of the plate. 
The plate is curious on account of the chips made in its 
rim. This chipping apparently was a well-known Treng 
custom, and at the death of the owner of any property such 
as a plate or a jar, a chip was made in the rim (or in the 
case of a jar an ear was knocked off), in memory of the 
occasion and also as deceased’s share of this property. 
This performance could only be done by a chief or an old 
man who had taken a head, ?,nd it was made the occasion 
of a feast and typical native debauch; a present was made 
to the man who performed the ceremony. 
The Trengs and Mittings are two of the older established 
