In dealing with this branch of the subject I will first take the case of the kings
and priestly magicians who present the most clearly-marked examples of
personal sanctity which are now to be found among Malays, and will then
describe the chief features of the sanctity ascribed to all ranks alike in respect of
certain special parts of the ordinary human anatomy. The theory of the king as
the Divine Man is held perhaps as strongly in the Malay region as in any other
part of the world, a fact which is strikingly emphasised by the alleged right of
Malay monarchs “to slay at pleasure, without being guilty of a crime.” Not only
is the king’s person considered sacred, but the sanctity of his body is believed to
communicate itself to his regalia, and to slay those who break the royal taboos.
Thus it is firmly believed that any one who seriously offends the royal person,
who touches (even for a moment) or who imitates (even with the king’s
permission) the chief objects of the regalia,^14 or who wrongfully makes use of
any of the insignia or privileges of royalty, will be kĕna daulat, i.e. struck dead,
by a quasi-electric discharge of that Divine Power which the Malays suppose to
reside in the king’s person,^15 and which is called “Daulat” or “Royal Sanctity.”
Before I proceed, however, to discuss this power, it will be best to give some
description of the regalia in which it resides:—
Of Malacca Newbold says: “The articles of Malay regalia usually consist of a
silasila, or book of genealogical descent, a code of laws, a vest or baju, and a
few weapons, generally a kris, kleywang, or spear.”^16
“The limbing is a sort of lance; the tombak bandrang a spear of state, four or
seven of which are usually carried before the chiefs in the interior of the
Peninsula. The handle is covered with a substance flowing from it like a horse-
tail, dyed crimson, sometimes crimson and white; this is generally of hair.”^17
So in Leyden’s translation of the Malay Annals (1821) we read—
“My name is Bichitram Shah, who am raja.... This is the sword, Chora sa
mendang kian (i.e. mandakini), and that is the lance, Limbuar (i.e. limbuara);
this is the signet, Cayu Gampit, which is employed in correspondence with
rajas.”^18
“The Chora sa medang kian (i.e. mandakini) is the celebrated sword with which
Peramas Cumunbang killed the enormous serpent Sicatimuna, which ravaged the