The pagan tribes of Borneo - Get a Free Blog Here

THE PEOPLES OF BORNEO 41
Kenyah chief whose village was situated on one of
the tributaries of the Baram river, and who by his
loyal co-operation with the government of the Rajah
of Sarawak greatly facilitated the rapid establishment
of law and order in this district.
Except for these informal alliances obtaining
between neighbouring villages of the people
of any one stock, each village forms an independent
community, ruled by its chief, making war
and peace and alliances, and selecting patches
of land for cultivation at its own pleasure. No
village community remains on the same spot for
any long period ; but after fifteen, ten, or even
fewer years, a new site is sought, often at a considerable
distance, and a new village is built. The
principal reasons for this habit of frequent migration,
which has produced the intimate mingling throughout
large areas of the peoples of different stocks, are
two : first, the necessity of finding virgin soil for
cultivation ; secondly, the occurrence of epidemics
or other calamities; these lead them to believe. that
the place of their aBode^^supplies in insufficient
degree the favouring spiritual influences which they
Tegard as essential to their welfare. For among
all these peoples animistic beliefs abound ; they
Kbid themselves to be surrounded on every hand
by spiritual forces both good and bad, some of
^^3H£h_M§-^J^ko4i^4 in the wild creatures, especially
the birds, while some are manifested in such natural
processes as the growth of the corn, the rising of
the river in flood, the rolling of thunder, the
incidence of disease. And they are constantly
concerned to keep at a distance, by the observance
of many rigidly prescribed customs, the evil
influences, and, to a less degree, to secure by
propitiatory acts the protection and the friendly
warnings of the beneficent powers.
y One of the most peculiar features of the people