the ceremony came to an end. Moving on to another part of the field, the
Pawang now cut the next seven “heads” and deposited them in one of the three
rice-baskets, which she then handed to one of the female bearers, telling her and
her two companions to reap the field in parallel straight lines facing the sun,
until they had filled the three rice-baskets, after which they were to return to the
house. Leaving the three reapers at their task, I followed the Pawang and Eldest
Bearer (the latter still shielding the Rice-child from the sun with the umbrella)
and arrived in time to witness the reception of the party as they reached the foot
of the house-ladder. Here (on the threshold) we were met by the wife of the
owner, and other women of his family, the former thrice calling out as we
approached, “Apa khabar?” (“What news?”), and thrice receiving the reply,
“Baik” (“It is well”). On receiving this reply for the third time she threw saffron-
rice over the Pawang and repeated these lines:—
“Chop the ‘tree’ Galenggang (a kind of shrub),
Chop it to pieces in front of the door:
Yonder comes One swinging (her) arms;
That (methinks) is a child of mine.”To which the Pawang immediately replied:—
“Chop the young bamboo-shoots as fine as you can,
If you wish to stupefy the fish in the main stream.
In good sooth I have crossed the stream,
For great was my desire to come hither.”And the bearer of the Rice-child added—doubtless on the Rice-child’s behalf:—
“This measure is not a measure filled with pepper,
But a measure filled with rice-husks.
My coming is not merely fortuitous,
But great (rather) was my desire, the wish of my heart.”She then entered the house and laid the Rice-child (still in its basket) on a new
sleeping-mat with pillows at the head. About twenty minutes later the three
Bearers returned,^218 each of their rice-baskets covered with a sarong. These
baskets were carried into the bedroom and deposited in order of size on the mat
at the foot of the soul-basket, the largest basket being the nearest to the soul-