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

THREE DYAK LEGENDS 290
charms to take away with thern. They were of various
kinds. Some had the power to make the owner brave
and fortunate in war. Others were to preserve him in
good health, or to make him successful in his paddyplanting,
and cause him to have good harvests.
Siu and Seragunting then bade their friends farewell
and started to return. As soon as they had descended
the ladder of the house of Singalang Burong, they were
swiftly transported through the air by some mysterious
power, and in a moment they found themselves at the
bathing-place of their own house.
Their friends crowded round them, glad to see them
back safe and well. They were taken with much rejoicing
to the house. Friends and neighbours were told of their
return, and a great meeting was held that evening. All
gathered round the two adventurers, who told them of
their strange experiences in the far county of the Spirit
Birds. The charms received from Singalang Burong
were handed round for general admiration. The new
seed, paddy, was produced, and the good qualities of rice
as an article of food explained. The people congregated
there had never seen paddy before, but all determined
to be guided by Siu and Seragunting, and to plant it in
future. The different names of the sacred birds were
told to the assembled people, and all were warned to pay
due respect to their cries.
And so, according to the ancient legend,
ended the old
primitive life of the Dyak, when he lived upon such poor
food as the fruits of the jungle, and any yams and potatoes
he happened to plant near his house ;
ence, in which there was nothing to guide him ;
the old blind exist-
and then
began his new life, in which he advanced forward a step,
and learnt to have regularly, year by year, his seed-time