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

(Perpustakaan Sri Jauhari) #1

yellow elsewhere),” and many others worthy of the Sultan “whose presence bringeth death to
all who attempt to approach him without permission,” and of the “Sultan of Indrapore, who has
four breasts.”—Marsden, Hist. of Sum. p. 272. ↑


28
I.e. purple, vide Klinkert, s.v.; cf. the following from J.R.A.S., S.B., No. No. 9 , p. 93: “Tan
Saban was frequently to be seen on the outworks of his fort across the river, dressed in
garments of conspicuous colours. In the morning he wore red, at mid-day yellow, and in the
evening his clothes were green. When he was pointed out to Magat Terawis, it was the
morning, and he was dressed in red.”


The foregoing superstitious observance is found among more than one Indo-Chinese nation.
“Le général en chef doit se conformer à plusieurs coutumes et observances superstitieuses; par
exemple, il faut qu’il mette une robe de couleur différente pour chaque jour de la semaine; le
dimanche il s’habille en blanc, le lundi en jaune, le mardi en vert, le mercredi en rouge, le jeudi
en bleu, le vendredi en noir, et le samedi en violet.”—Pallegoix, Description de Siam, vol. i. p.





29
Lit. “corpse grooves.” ↑


30
The usual form is pĕnggonggong, from gonggong, to carry in the mouth. ↑


31
Their Malay names are “Si-mulajadi,” “Ashik sa-kampong,” “Si-putar leman,” “Asam garam,”
“Ahadan mabuk,” “Sa-palit gila” “Sri gĕgah,” and “Doa unus.”—J.R.A.S., S.B., No. 17, pp.
94–97. ↑


32
The Malay word is changgei, which means “long nails” (whether natural or artificial); artificial
nails are several inches in length, being much affected by Malay actors performing as
royalty. ↑


33
A long step and a slow swing of the arms reminds the Malay of the way a man steps and raises
his arm to plant bean-seeds six feet apart; a quicker step and a rounder swing of the arms is
compared to the action of scattering small seeds.—J.R.A.S., S.B., loc. cit. ↑


34
In house-building it is further forbidden to dovetail or make the ends of the timbers (e.g. of the
roof) fit accurately together, and also to build two verandahs, one on each side of the house,
with their floors on a level with the floor of the main building; if two verandahs are used, the

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