THE PAGAN TRIBES OF BORNEO. PTO THE EDITOR OE THE
"Srseriron."1 SIR,—I have not yet read "The Pagan Tribes of Borneo" (by Charles Hose, D.Sc., and Wm. McDougall, M.B., F.R.S.), but I read the review of the book which appeared in the Spectator :dated April 26th. The reviewer writes : "It is interesting to be told that the Ibane have made, from the substantive butong (a bird), a verb bebutong (to bird), i.e., to take omens of any kind, 'whether from bird or beast." As far as I know, the only word used by the Sea Dyaks or Iban of Borneo for
bird is burong, not butong, and the verb meaning " to take omens" is beburong and not bebutong. Can any of your readers throw any light on this matter ?—I am, Sir, &c., EDWIN H. GONES
(Anther of "Seventeen Years Among the Bea Dyaks of Borneo").
Upper Norwood.
' [On referring to our reviewer's manuscript we find that he "wrote " burong " and " beburong," and that " butong " and 4‘ bebutong" were printer's errors.—En. Spectator.]
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