These sacrifices are offered to the infernal deities, as well as to the souls of their ancestors, who they are taught to believe inhabit very large trees, rocks of uncommon appearance, or any natural object which, in point of magnitude or form, varies from the usual course. They are so fully persuaded of this, that they never pass any object of this description, without first asking the permission of its visionary inhabitant, and to this hour the custom prevails. When any person was dangerously ill, his friends offered up to their deities rice, wine, and flesh, which was then given to the sick person, and which they were of opinion would effect his cure, a custom even yet followed by some people. They have many other superstitions, as that of the patianac, a spirit or ideal being, whose employment or amusement consists in preventing, by certain means peculiar to itself, the delivery of a woman in labour. To counteract the malignity of this spirit, the husband, fastening the door, reduces himself to a state of complete nudity, lights a fire, and arming himself with his sword, continues to flourish it furiously, until the woman is delivered. The tigbalang is another object of which they stand in great awe. It is described as a phantom, which assumes a variety of uncouth and monstrous shapes, and interposes its authority, to prevent their performing the duties, prescribed by our religion. These and other superstitions, formerly had extensive influence, and are still resorted to by impostors, who find their account in persuading those, who are silly enough to listen to them, that they are able to cure them of dangerous illness, or to recover any thing they may have lost, by having recourse to such absurdities; and so much do the love of life, and our own individual interests prevail, that although they believe these customs sinful, and although they do not entirely give credit to their efficacy, yet they put them in practice, because, they say, chance may be in their favour: this is a proof that as yet they are very superficial christians [14]. Indeed, all their religious impressions, seem rather the result of a slavish dread, than the effect of rational piety.