- WAR AND WEAPONS
Such charms as might be used in time of war, or in case of danger from wild
beasts or other enemies, are partly what may be called “defensive” and partly
“offensive” in character.
The Malays who use them pray, on the one hand, for a supernatural appearance
wherewith to scare their enemies and protect themselves, and on the other for
supernatural powers to assist in the destruction of their foes.
Thus, one of their charms runs:—
“Let me face the Seven Suns,
But let not my enemies face me.
Ha! I am a Tiger and thou art a Dog.”^195The use of such charms is supplemented in various ways: thus a champion
(pĕnglima) will sometimes draw a line in front of him, which he believes his
enemy will be unable to pass;^196 this is done by simply scraping the ground with
the right foot and threatening the foe with a dire curse if he attempts to cross it.
“Push and you die, step across and your leg shall break.
I apply the charm of the Line called the Swollen Corpse.”According to another method of gaining martial vigour and immunity in
fighting, you take a wick as long as the short span between your thumb and first
finger (sa-jĕngkal tĕlunjok), and after passing it over your body upwards (di-
naikkan) thrice, take it between your two hands and try and turn it round while
you repeat the charm. The ceremony must take place at the time of full moon,