PLATE 19 .—PĔDIKIR.Model, showing the performance of pĕdikir (a kind of dance) before a newly-married couple.
The performers are two girls, who carry fans and wear a peculiar head-dress towards the left of
the picture are seated the musicians with tambourines (rĕbana), and on the right some
spectators. The bride and bridegroom are seated on the dais, the latter towards the middle of
the picture. Near him are seen the marriage-pillows (which are in correct proportion), and
overhead the ornamental clothes-rod with clothes. The tree-like object on the left is the
sĕtakona: it is the only object out of proportion, being too large. Rolled up in front are the
striped hangings used at Malay weddings.Page 466.We now come to a class of dances in which certain inanimate objects, that are
believed to be temporarily animated, are the performers, and which therefore
closely correspond to the performances of our own spiritualists.
The Palm-blossom dance is a very curious exhibition, which I once saw
performed in the Langat District of Selangor. Two freshly-gathered sheaves of
areca-palm blossom (each several feet in length) were deposited upon a new