Ancha.—A square frame 1′ 6′′ × 1′ 6′′, composed of strips of split bamboo for the
floor and four pieces of peeled wood for the sides. The proper wood is kayu
sungkei,^245 because it has flat even twigs and leaves which lie flat and
symmetrically; these must be bound together with a creeper: rattan may not be used;
it is hung to the tulang bumbong^246 just under the attaps^247 of the smelting-shed; it
is used as an altar, the offerings made by the miners to the spirits being placed on it.Genggulang.—The platform or altar erected by the pawang at the opening of a mine.
It should be built entirely of kayu sungkei. The wood is peeled, except the four
branches which serve as posts; these are only peeled up to the twigs and leaves,
which are left on, about 4 feet 6 inches from the ground. At 3 feet 3 inches from the
ground a square platform of round peeled sticks, about 1 foot 3 inches each way, is
arranged; one foot above the level of the platform a sort of railing is fixed round three
sides of the square, and from the open side a ladder with four steps reaches down to
the ground; the railing is carried down to the ground on each side of the ladder, and
supports a fringe of cocoa-nut leaves (jari-lipan). The whole erection must be tied
together with creepers; rattan must not be used.
Jari lipan.—A fringe made of the young white leaflets of the cocoa-nut palm plaited
together.^248Jampi.—The incantation of the pawang.Kapala nasi.—A stake of peeled wood (kayu sungkei) stuck in the ground; the top of
this is split into four so as to support a platform similar to that of the genggulang.
Offerings are made upon it.^249
Pantang burok mata.—The period of mourning observed when a death occurs at a
mine.Mourning consists in abstention from work (in the case of a neighbour or comrade)
for three days, or, in the case of the death of the pawang, penghulu kelian, or the
feudal chief, for seven days. The expression is derived from the supposition that in
three days the eyes of a corpse have quite disappeared. Chinese miners have a similar
custom; whoever goes to assist in the burial of a corpse must not only abstain from
work, but must not go near the mine or smelting furnace for three days.^250Perasap.—Half a cocoa-nut shell, a cup, or any other vessel, in which votive
offerings of sweet-smelling woods and gums are burnt.Sangka.—A receptacle in which to burn offerings of sweet woods and gums; it is
made of a stick of bamboo about three feet long, one end being split and opened out
to receive the charcoal; it is stuck in the ground near races and heaps of tin sand.^251Tatin gulang.—The pawang’s fee for the ceremony of erecting a genggulang.^252The following notes on tin-mining in Selangor were contributed to the Selangor