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

292 THUEE DYAK LEGENDS
every night the same strange thing occurred—a bundle of
food was left near Seragunting. Siu suggested to his son
that they should return ;
but Seragunting, who during the
journey had grown up into a strong lad, with a will of his
own, would not consent to do so, as he was determined to
find his mother.
They wandered on for several da} 7
s, deeper and deeper
into the jungle, but could find no signs of her whom they
sought. At last they came to the sea-shore. Here they
rested for some days, in the hope that some boat might
pass. Still, as before, each morning a bundle of food
was found by Seragunting. If it were not for this food,
they would have long ago died of starvation. On this
they managed to live, waiting hopefully to see some boat
appear to take them on their journey.
One day as Seragunting was watching,
he heard the
sound of paddles, and saw in the distance several long
boats approaching. He hailed the first, and asked the
men in it to take him and his father with them. The
boat made for the shore, but the man in the bows recog-
"
nized the two wanderers, and shouted out : It is Siu and
his son Seragunting ; do not let them come into the boat."
The boat went on and left them to their fate. The same
thing happened in the case of each of the other boats.
As soon as Siu and his son were recognized, no one would
help them.
Now these were the boats of the sons-in-law of Singalang
: Burong Katupong, Beragai, Bejampong, Papau, Nendak,
Kutok, and Embuas. They were not pleased at their
sister-in-law marrying a mere mortal like Siu, and so
refused to help him and his son.
The next day Seragunting saw what seemed to be a dark
cloud come towards him over the sea. As it came nearer,