mĕlintang.
Cannon (mĕriam) = batang kabu-kabu (lit. cotton-tree trunk), or batang
buloh (lit. trunk of bamboo).
Cannon-ball = buah niyor (lit. cocoa-nut).When a man is out in the wars his pillows and sleeping-mat at home have to be
kept rolled up. If any one else were to use them the absent warrior’s courage
would fail, and disaster would befall him (tĕr-tentu-lah kachau hati tuan-nya
yang di p’rang itu, datang-lah mara). His wife and children must not have their
hair cut (ta’ buleh potong rambut atau bĕrandam) during his absence, nor may
he himself. Strict chastity must be observed in a stockade, or the bullets of the
garrison will lose their power (pĕluru jinak di kubu-nya), and it is also forbidden
to abuse or mock at the enemy, or even at their weapons.^198
Bullets are frequently, if not always, “charmed” before being used, and their
efficacy is supposed to be increased thereby. The Orang Kaya Pahlawan, a chief
of some local notoriety in recent times, claimed to be invulnerable (kĕbal) to the
extent that nothing but a silver bullet would hurt him.
The following legendary tale illustrates a somewhat similar idea:—The assailant,
one Magat Terawis, an unknown warrior who had joined the Sultan’s investing
army, had four bullets, on each of which were inscribed the words: “This is the
son of the concubine of the Raja of Pagar-ruyong; his name is Magat Terawis;
wherever his bullet falls he will become a Chief.”
“Magat Terawis levelled his matchlock and fired, and his bullet struck Tan
Saban’s leg. The skin was hardly broken, and the bullet fell to the ground at the
chief’s feet; but, on taking it up and reading the inscription, he knew that he had
received his death-wound. He retired to his house, and, after ordering his flag to
be hauled down, despatched a messenger to the opposite camp to call the warrior
whose name he had read on the bullet. Inquiries for Magat Terawis were fruitless
at first, for no one knew the name. At length he declared himself, and went
across the river with Tan Saban’s messenger, who brought him into the presence
of the dying man. The latter said to him, ‘Magat Terawis, thou art my son in this
world and the next, and my property is thine. I likewise give thee my daughter in
marriage, and do thou serve the Raja faithfully in my place, and not be rebellious
as I have been.’ Tan Saban then sued for the Sultan’s pardon, which was granted
to him, and the marriage of his daughter with Magat Terawis was permitted to