ETHNOLOGICAL NOTES. 
147 
thing is bliss; and with the exception of the two modes 
of death mentioned above, no special moral qualities 
seem to be demanded to obtain entrance thereto. On 
the road to Long Kendi a guardian spirit is stationed, 
named Ilah Buhan, who turns the illigible down a 
rocky path which leads to the country of Pohun Nang, 
ruled by Lawai Lingan, where there is always war and 
famine, so that these restless spirits can indulge them¬ 
selves to their hearts’ content. It is curious that a peo¬ 
ple who have indulged in fighting and headhunting to 
such an extent should apportion the inferior future life 
to those who die on the field of battle. 
The knowledge of this future life was obtained from 
one Uku Pandah, whose spirit departed from him two 
years before his allotted span of life was finished. 
'Phis spirit obtained admittance into Long Kendi in the 
shape of a pig, but was immediately recognised by 
Iju Ipoi, who ordered him to return to his mortal body 
for the remainder of his term of life. This the spirit 
did, and to the astonishment of everybody, Uku Pandah, 
having been dead for two days, suddenly came to life 
again, and at the end of two years expired again, this 
time however to return no more. They have no idea 
of the creation and only know that there were two 
original beings, one male and one female, who had a 
large family, the youngest of which became the chief. 
In their mourning customs they follow the Kalabits 
and the ceremonies of ‘Nulang’ ends a term of mourn¬ 
ing, but they do not actually ‘nulang’, that is remove 
the bones of the deceased from the coffin and place 
them in jars as the Kalabits and other Kelamantans do. 
However if there has been a lot of sickness and many 
deaths, they very often indulge in the Kayan custom of 
‘aio’ instead, that is they take an old head down from 
the house and go through the ceremonies of returning 
from the warpath. 
The Muriks are a very hard working people and are 
some of the best farmers in the District. They do not 
seem to have any special time for farming, but having 
obtained their omens start felling the jungle a couple 
of months after they have finished harvesting. This is 
