Now the Princess’s nurse (who was called “The Daughter of Sakembang
China”) was at the same time transformed into a bear, and as they were bathing
at the time when they were surprised, and had not time to wash off all the soap
(rice-cosmetic), the white marks on the breast and brows of the bear and on the
breast and brows of the ape (siamang) have remained unto this day.
Occasionally the opposite transformation is believed to take place, some species
of the monkey tribe being supposed to turn into fish.
Thus the k’ra (Macacus cynomolgus) is believed to develop into a species of fish
called sĕnunggang, and of the fish called kalul (kalui or kalue), Sir W. E.
Maxwell writes: “The ikan kalul (is believed) to be a monkey transformed. Some
specially favoured observers have seen monkeys half through the process of
metamorphosis—half-monkey and half-fish.”^122 The species of monkey which
is believed to turn into the ikan kalul is, as I was told in Selangor, the b’rok or
“cocoa-nut monkey.”
“Berhakim kapada brok” is a Malay proverbial expression which means, “‘To
make the monkey judge,’ or, ‘to go to the monkey for justice.’ A fable is told by
the Malays of two men, one of whom planted bananas on the land of the other.
When the fruit was ripe each claimed it, but not being able to come to any
settlement they referred the matter to the arbitration of a monkey (of the large
kind called brok). The judge decided that the fruit must be divided; but no
sooner was this done than one of the suitors complained that the other’s share
was too large. To satisfy him the monkey reduced the share of the other by the
requisite amount, which he ate himself. Then the second suitor cried out that the
share of the first was now too large. It had to be reduced to satisfy him, the
subtracted portion going to the monkey as before. Thus they went on wrangling
until the whole of the fruit was gone, and there was nothing left to wrangle
about. Malay judges, if they are not calumniated, have been known to protract
proceedings until both sides have exhausted their means in bribes. In such cases
the unfortunate suitors are said to berhakim kapada brok.”^123
The Wild Pig and Other Animals