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

DYAK FEASTS 215
and offerings arc made to Singalang Burong as in the
former feast.
(3) Gawai Gajah (the " Elephant Feast ") : This feast
can only be held by a war leader who has been particularly
successful against the enemy, and has succeeded in obtain-
ing a large number of heads. It is of so great importance
that the Dyaks say that, after this feast has been held,
no other need be held in honour of any new heads that
may be brought into the house. It is very rarely observed
in modern times. The last was held some fifteen years
ago by Kindling, a Skrang Dyak living in the Undup.
Offerings and incantations are made to Singalang Burong
as in the Tenyalang feast. The wooden figure of an
elephant is placed on the top of a long pole planted in the
ground, and to this figure offerings are made.
2. The three principal Feasts connected with
Farming are the Gaivai Batu, the Gawai Benih, and the
Gawai Nyimpan Padi.
(1) Gaivai Batu (the "Stone Feast ") : This feast takes
place before the farming operations begin, and is in
honour of Pulang Gana, the god of the land, who lives
in the bowels of the earth, and has power to make the
land fruitful or unfruitful. In this feast invocations are
made to this god, and he is asked to give them a good
harvest. The whetstones and farming implements are
placed in a heap in the veranda of the Dyak house, and
offerings are made to the whetstones with a request that
they may sharpen their tools and thus lighten their
labours. After the feast is over the whetstones are taken
to the different farms, and the work of cutting down the
jungle for planting begins.
(2) Gawai Benih (the " Seed Feast ") : This feast is held
just before sowing. The seed is placed in baskets in the