Malay Magic _ Being an introduction to the - Walter William Skeat

(Perpustakaan Sri Jauhari) #1

97
The Bilal is an elder of the mosque; in western Muhammadan countries he is styled Muezzin. ↑


98
Selangor Journal, vol. i. No. 2, p. 23. ↑


99
Probably this should be 4th. ↑


100
He was of Arab extraction. But wearing clothes in the Arab fashion is not unusual even in the
case of purely Malay bridegrooms. ↑


101
Selangor Journal, vol. iv. No. 2, pp. 23–5. The list of presents sent by friends on this occasion
included buffaloes, a bullock, goats, spices, plate, and jewellery. ↑


102
Sir William Maxwell in N. and Q., No. 4, sec. 91, issued with No. 17 of the J.R.A.S., S.B. ↑


103
“At their funerals the corpse is carried to the place of interment on a broad plank, which is kept
for the public service of the dusun, and lasts for generations. It is constantly rubbed with lime,
either to preserve it from decay or to keep it pure. No coffin is made use of, the body being
simply wrapped in white cloth, particularly of the sort called hummums. In forming the grave
(kubur), after digging to a convenient depth they make a cavity in the side, at bottom, of
sufficient dimensions to contain the body, which is there deposited on its right side. By this
mode the earth literally lies light upon it; and the cavity, after strewing flowers in it, they stop
up by two boards fastened angularly to each other, so that the one is on the top of the corpse,
whilst the other defends it on the open side, the edge resting on the bottom of the grave. The
outer excavation is then filled up with earth; and little white flags, or streamers, are stuck in
order around. They likewise plant a shrub, bearing a white flower, called kumbangkamboja
(Plumeria obtusa), and in some places wild marjoram. The women who attend the funeral
make a hideous noise, not much unlike the Irish howl. On the third and seventh day the
relations perform a ceremony at the grave, and at the end of twelve months that of tegga batu,
or setting up a few long elliptical stones, at the head and foot, which, being scarce in some
parts of the country, bear a considerable price. On this occasion they kill and feast on a buffalo,
and leave the head to decay on the spot, as a token of the honour they have done to the
deceased in eating to his memory. The ancient burying-places are called krammat, and are
supposed to have been those of the holy men by whom their ancestors were converted to the
faith. They are held in extraordinary reverence, and the least disturbance or violation of the

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