Bejampong

Bejampong - Crested Jay Among the omen birds, Bejampong (pictured above) whose earthly manefestation is Crested Jay Platylophus Galericulatus, is known for his swiftness and his agility, is second in command. The son of Bujang Kengkang Kerama, Duat Igat Junggo Tandang. He is married to Endu Kechapah Dulang Midong, Endu Kumang Bunga Ketunsong, the third daughter of Sengalang Burong.

Bejampong Bejampong came from a country called Tuchong Tugong Baas, like the heads of male cobras, situated at tibak rias ridge, like dry timber waiting to be fired (di tuchong tugong baas, baka pala tedong lelaki, di tinting tibak rias, baka rebaan nganti hari).

Bejampong Indu Praise name (Ensumbar or julok): Geliga Tandang, Bujang Sambai Bejampong, Berayang Tangang Penatong Adong. Or Bunga Jarau Sagupong, ngeretong ka parabong rumah raya.

Special possession: Rarak creeper to plug the nostril of the skull and danan creeper for tying the group of skulls above the hearth (ngembuan rarak ambi ka pasak lubang idong enggau danan digaga ka mudan tinggi begantong) Interpretation Of Bejampong as Omen Bird: 1. When you do a day of the seven days work of initial clearing and you hear the voice of Bejampong, it foretells that the land you are farming will be dry and your padi will not grow well. But if after you hear it, you hear the voice of Embuas, it is a good omen, as it indicates that Embuas comes and flies up as high as the height of the raras tree before it perches at the place where Bejampong has sat and shrieked. This indicates that he overpowers the voice of Bejampong. As Embuas owns a charm which can dissolve the earth and cool it, your padi may now grow luxuriantly.

2. If a manang (shaman), a dukun (medicine man), or a lemambang (bard) hears the voice of Bejampong while travelling on his way to cure a sick person, it is a good omen if he never before doctored anyone who lives in the same direction as the patient he is going to visit. It foretells that the sick person he wishes to cure will be well. Likewise, in the future, if he is invited to treat a patient in that part of the country, his healing work will be effective.

3. It is taboo for a longhouse to be entered by a Bejampong bird. If it happens, it predicts that the settlement will soon catch on fire and burn. A manang should be called as soon as possible to neutralize this omen.

4. If you and your newly wedded wife pay your first visit (nyundang pinang) after your marriage to the latters house and you hear the voice of Bejampong on the right side of the road, it is a good omen. It predicts that your children in the future will obtain considerable wealth. But later their children will always be childless so there will be no one of their own issue to inherit their property.

5. If you are on your way to call for a manang or a dukun to cure a sick person, arid you hear the voice of Bejampong, and if the sickness is a sudden one, the patient will be cured instantly by the manang or the dukun you call for. If the patient has been ill for a long time, he will continue to be sick for a long time more.

6. If you bring a newly adopted child into your house, and you hear the voice of Bejampong on the right side of the road, it is a good omen which predicts that the child and his or her descendants will always politically dominate other people in your house or country for centuries.

7. If you hear the voice of Bejampong on your way to clear the secondary growth on your farm, it is an ill-omen. It predicts that the husks of your padi will be empty.

8. If you are on your way to visit a sick child, and you hear the voice of Bejampong on the left hand side of the road, it is a good omen. The child will soon be cured. But if you hear it from your right hand side, the child will remain sick for a long time.

By Gregory Nyanggau Mawar Uchu Sengalang Burong