The Seven Omen Birds of the Iban
Lang Sengalang Burong (Lang) is considered as the Chief all bird deities and appears on earth as the Brahminy kite.
The Ketupong or Entis
The authoritive or deliberate leader. He is Raja Ngaka of the many head trophies who dwells in the great tree full of bee’s nests and orchids that hang like locks of hair on sword hilt. He posses the glamour of fighting men.
Beragai
Scarlet Rumped Trogan. The brilliant bird who laughs as we do. The moist bird who shows men deep rich earth.Pangkas or KutokMaroon woodpecker whose high pitched cry is like a man yelling in triumph.
Embuas
Banded Kingfisher. The kindly spoken one. He warns of ill if he calls at noon.
Bejampong or Jampong
A crested Jay. He is keen of eye, quick of seeing sharp of ear, quick of hearing whose call is like someone speaking very fast. His crest is like the tuft of enemy hair on a hilt.
Papau or Kelabu
Diard Trogan. He is named because of his slow call pau-pau-pau on descending scale. His alarm cry, senabong, is an evil warning omen. If the bird at dusk, it will render the hearer harder for the enemy to see. His cry is the voice of a peaceable man but the alarm call is like that of one attacking with sharp words.
Nendak
The white rumped Shama. The bird of peace and plenty whose call is that of someone speaking comfortable words. He is listened for all omens of peaceful undertakings. Nendak watches the longhouse as the men go on raids. He is the bird of the quiet spoken home loving farmer. He lives with his mother in a small poor hut and is seen as below the others in status.
The Omen Birds of the Kenyah
sit
Spider hunter. Judging by its flight, it is considered a good omen when it flies toward the right and a bad omen if it flies to the left when the people are on their way to hunt, war or daily work on the farm. If it flies from left to right we must stop at once and light a fire. We place a reed in the fire until it smoulders.
Pengulong
Diards Trogan. If we encounter a Pengulong along with an Isitwe are not allowed to go to work.Kiying
Talking Munia. There are two varieties. One makes a call like I-is, i-is I-is while the other is tat tat tat
Ukang(?)
The size of a small sparrow it is chocolate colour with a small tail.
Pelaki
Braminy Kite. We judge the omen by the flight. If it flies across our path to the right we perform the same ceremony as with the Isit.
Ase’
Orange breasted trogan. If there are other birds flying around which give a good omen and this is confirmed by the Ase’ crying sebee sebew sebew, then we may carry on with our work. If we fell a tree to make a boat and hear a Ase’ we must throw away the wood.The Omen birds listed here are only for identification purposes. There are intricate meanings as to their behaviour and how they relate to building houses, farming including planting and harvest, interpretations of dreams, hunting and war. The articles go on for twenty pages.
From: Iban Auguryby Anthony Richards and Kenyah Omen Birds and Beasts by Rt. Rev. A.D. Galvin in the Sarawak Museum Journal, December, 1972.
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