Recovered from a long and dangerous illness,
very often a feast is held to thank the spirit of disease for leaving
them, and to beg him to stay away a long time. To
all these feasts the whole neighbourhood for miles
around
are invited. Some weeks before the day appointed for the feast,
small parties of three or four are despatched in different
directions,
and these go from house to house and invite people to the feast. The
men and women come to a feast
dressed in the brightest colours and wearing many ornaments,
and the whole assembly
has a very gay appearance. For amusements they have dancing,
cock-fighting, and trials of strength among the young men. The Dyaks
have
two dances--the _Mencha_ or Sword Dance,
and the _Ajat_ or War Dance. In the former, two swo