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

THREE DYAK LEGENDS 303
As Pulang-Gana came nearer, he saw the house was a
very long one, inhabited by about one hundred families.
He stopped at the bottom of the ladder leading up to the
house, and, following the Dyak custom, asked in a loud
voice if he might walk up.
"
Yes come ; up, Pulang-Gana," said a voice in reply.
" We have been expecting you for some time, and will
be glad to see you."
He was surprised that his name should be known in
this strange country in which he had never been before.
He walked up, and in the long open hall stretching the
whole length of the house he saw an old man and a young
and beautiful girl.
" Spread out a mat, my daughter," the old man said,
" that Pulang-Gana may sit and rest after his long journe} r
and you can prepare
hungry as well as tired."
some food for him. No doubt he is
She spread out a mat for Pulang-Gana, and then went
into the room to get ready a meal for their visitor. Soon
after she opened the door of the room and asked him to
come in and eat.
The old man, who seemed kind and hospitable, said to
him :—
"
Go in and have some food. You must be hungry
after your long journey. When you have eaten and
rested we can have a talk together. I have long wished
to meet you and to ask you about yourself and your
brothers, and how affairs are in your country."
Pulang-Gana went into the room, and found a nice
meal awaiting him. Being very hungry, he did full
justice to it.
That evening, as they sat by the fire, the old man asked
him about his people, and if they had good crops of paddy
,