Children of Borneo

their way of referring disputed questions to supernatural decision. They believe that the gods are sure to help the innocent, and punish the guilty. When there is a dispute between two par

to decide the time, and the place of the match. It is also decided what pro

ons to the spirits, and beg of them to support their just cause, and help their representative to win. Each party chooses

balls of cooked rice. Then each is made to lie down on a nice new mat, and is covered with a beautiful, Dyak-woven sheet; an inc

he bank. A large crowd of men, women and children join the procession of the two champions and their friends and supporters to the scene of the contest at the river-side. As soon a

to stand on in the water. These are placed within a few yards of each other, where the water is deep enough to

ts in the water, and the shaking of the pole he is holding to, the excitement becomes very great. "Lobon-lobon," is shouted louder and more rapidly than before. The shouts become deafening. The struggles of the poor victim, who is fast losing consciousness, are painful to witness. The champions are generally plucky, and seldom come out of the water of their own will. They stay under water until the loser drops senseless, and is dragged ashore, apparently life

away without at least touching it, some misfortune is sure to befall him. It is said that he is sure

touch the food before going away. I have never been able to discover the origin of this curious superstition, but inn

erations may know of his wickedness, and take warning from it. The persons deceived start the tugong bula-"the liar's mound"-by heaping up a large number of branches in some conspicuous spot by the side of the path from one village to another. Every passer-by contributes to it, and at the sa

o was a liar. Once started, there seems to be no means of destroying a tugong bula. There used to be one by the side of the path between Seratok and Sebetan. As the branches and twigs that composed it often came over