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

272 THREE DYAK LEGENDS
arrived, carrying on his shoulder a bundle of cane.sugar-
"
I am very pleased to see you, Danjai," he said.
" Would you like some sugar-cane ? If so, help your-
self."
Danjai was so sad thinking of his wife that he did not
notice how curious it was that they should know his
name when they had never seen him before. He did not
feel at all inclined to eat sugar-cane, but lest his host
should think he had come to kill, and to put him off
his guard, he pretended to eat a little. He heard the
Were-Tiger say to his sister in the room that she was to
be sure to have enough food cooked, as Danjai would eat
with them that evening. Then he left them and went to
the river to bathe.
The sister came out of the room, and spoke to Danjai,
who was still sitting in the veranda, and asked him to
come into the room, as she had something to say to
him.
" Yes, Danjai," she said to him in a kind tone of voice,
" I know of your trouble and I am sorry for you. However,
if you follow my advice, all will be well. You must
be careful, for my brother is easily put out, and has no
scruples about killing any who displease him. Our own
people here hate him, for he is so merciless ; but no one
dares attack him, for all fear him greatly. Now listen
attentively to what I have to say.
plates of rice in the room presently,
he tells you to have :
When I put out the
do not take the one
take any of the others, for the one
he wishes you to have is sure to contain some poison.
Later on, when you retire to rest, do not spend the night
on the mat spread out for you, but sleep somewhere else,
and put the wooden mortar for pounding paddy on the