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

CHAPTER XVI
DYAK FEASTS
Four classes of feasts— —Feasts Preparations connected with: 1, Headtaking
; 2, Farming ; 3, The dead ; 4, Dreams, etc.—Housewarming
— Social feasts.
T
~^HE Dyak religious feasts may be divided into the
four following classes :
Those connected with—
1. Head-taking.
2. Farming.
3. The dead.
4. Dreams, etc.
Though the Dyak feasts differ in their aims, there is a
deal which seems to be common to them all. The
great
social character of all these feasts seems to be of more
importance than the religious aspect, and the feasting of
the guests has more consideration than the making of
offerings to the spirits or gods. In none of these feasts
does there seem to be any real, reverential, religious
worship. It is true food is offered to the spirits, but this
is done as the mere observance of an ancient custom,
without any approach to religious reverence. There are
also long incantations made to the higher powers by men
selected for that purpose, who have good memories and
can recite in a monotonous chant the special hymns of
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