following articles: a chupak (half cocoa-nutful) of “parched” rice, a set of three,
five, or seven bananas, a “pinch” (sa-jĕmput) of “saffron” rice, a pinch of
“washed” rice, a native cigarette (rokok), an egg, a wax taper, two “chews” of
betel-leaf, and a betel-leaf twisted up into the shape of a spiral (pantat siput).
One (at least) of the two “chews” of betel must be specially prepared, as it is to
be left behind for the spirits to chew, whilst the other is taken back into the
presence of the sick man, where the medicine-man chews it and ejects the
chewed leaf (di-sĕmbor) upon the “small” of the sick man’s back. In the case of
the “chew” which is left behind for the spirits, the ordinary portion of betel-nut
must be replaced by nutmeg, the gambier by mace, and the lime by “oil of
Celebes” (minyak Bugis).
When the ceremony of loading the limas is complete, it is carried down to the
nearest river or sea, and there set adrift with the following words:—
“Peace be with you, Khailir (Khizr), Prophet of God and Lord of water,
Maduraya is the name of your sire,
Madaruti the name of your mother,
Si Kĕkas the name of their child;
Accept this present from your younger brother, Si Kĕkas,
Cause him no sickness or headache.
Here is his, your younger brother’s, present.”Here the limas is set adrift, and the water underneath it scooped up and carried
home, where it is used for bathing the sick man.
Another very simple form of “propitiation” is called ambang-ambangan, and is
performed as follows:—
Take seven “chews” of betel-leaf, seven native cigarettes (rokok), seven
bananas, an egg, and an overflowing chupak (half cocoa-nutful) of parched rice
(bĕr’tih sa-chupak abong),^128 roll them all up together in a banana leaf (which
must be a cubit in length and of the same variety of banana as the first), and
deposit them in a place where three roads meet (if anything “a little way along
the left-hand road of the three,”) and repeat this charm:—
“Jĕmbalang Jĕmbali, Demon of the Earth,
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