The Nagah Guards Underneath As Well As Above The Surface Of Water And Earth, But The Air Is Protected By Three Birds Which Are Messengers, Or Mail Carriers, So To Speak.

They are able to call the good antoh and carry food to him; they are also attendants of man and watch over him and his food.

Fowls and pigs are sacrificed to them as payment. They are - the tingang (hornbill), the sankuvai (formerly on earth but now only in heaven), and the antang (red hawk). As these birds are called by the same names in the tribes of the Katingans, Ot-Danums, Kahayans, and others, it may be presumed that their worship is widely prevalent in Borneo.

Among most if not all native races certain persons occupy themselves with religious services and at the same time cure disease. In Borneo, as far as my experience goes, these priest-doctors, whether male or female, are generally recognised by the name blian, or balian. Although some tribes have their own and different designations, for the sake of convenience I shall call them all blians.

While there are both male and female blians, the service of women is regarded as more valuable, therefore commands higher remuneration than that received by men. A Dayak explained to me: As there are two sexes among the antohs, so there are also male and female blians. He or she on occasion pretends to be possessed of helpful antohs, in some parts of Borneo called sangiangs. Besides assisting the blians in their work they enable them to give advice in regard to the future, illness, or the affairs of daily life.

Enter page number Go  Previous Next
Page 131 of 489
Words from 35000 to 35273 of 132281