Seventeen years among the Sea Dyaks of Borneo; a ... - Sabrizain.org

''MANANG," OR WITCH-DOCTOR 171
and an offering is put on the ridge. A swing is erected
up there for the manang, and he makes his incantations
and " catches the soul."
10. Begiling lantai (" rolled up in the flooring ")
: In
this ceremony, when the manang feigns to swoon, his
body is rolled up in part of the flooring, and certain
miniature articles are put by his side, just as a dead
man's possessions are put by his body, and the manang
is taken out of the house as if to be buried.
11. Beburong raia ("making or acting the adjutant
bird ") : The manangs walk up and down the house
seven times, imitating the actions of the adjutant bird.
The}' are covered with native sheets, put over their
bodies like cloaks, and they pretend to personate the bird.
12. Bebaju besi (" wearing an iron coat ") : Each
manang fastens two choppers
on his back and two in
front, and carries one in each hand. Thus equipped,
they walk round and " catch the soul."
13. Bebandong Api ("displaying fire"): The patient
is laid out in the public part of the house, and several
small fires are made round him. The manang s pretend
to dissect his body, and fan the flames towards him to
drive away the sickness.
14. Betiti tendad (" walking on the tendai ") : The
tendai is the bar on which cotton is placed when being
spun. This bar is oiled and placed in the middle of the
public veranda, and the manang, armed with a chopper
in each hand, walks on it in order to " catch the soul '
of the patient.
15. Beremaung (" acting the tiger ")
: In the middle
of each family's portion of the public veranda is placed a
wooden mortar, and the manang prowls round them to
" "
catch the soul of the patient.