And whose Swing-ropes are Malacca-cane-plants
The Gift of His Highness Sultan Bĕrumbongan,
Who dwelt at Pagar Ruyong,
In the House whose posts were heart of the Tree-nettle,
Whose threshold a stem of Spinach,
Strewn over with stems of the Purut-purut,
Whose Body-hairs were inverted,
And whose Breasts were four in number,
To whom belonged the Casting-net for Flies,
And whose drum was “headed” with the skins of lice.
Break not faith with me,
(Or) you shall be killed by the Impact of the Sanctity of the Four Corners of the
World,
Killed by the Impact of the Forty-four Angels,
Killed by the Impact of the Pillar of the Kaʿbah,
Killed by the Thrust of the sacred Lump of Iron,
Killed by the Shaft of the Thunderbolt,
Killed by the Pounce of Twilight Lightning,
Killed by the Impact of the Thirty Sections of the Korān,
Killed by the Impact of the Saying, “There is no god but God,”
etc.
Giants are called Bota (Bhuta), Raksasa, and Gargasi (gasi-gasi or gĕgasi), or
sometimes Hantu Tinggi (“Tall Demons”), the first two of these names being
clearly derivable from a Sanskrit origin.
In addition to those enumerated we may add the various classes of “good
people,” such as the Bidadari (or Bĕdiadari) or Pĕri (fairies and elves), which are
of foreign origin, and the “Orang Bunyian,” a class of Malay spirits about whom
very little seems known. The latter appear to be a race of good fairies, who are
so simple-minded that they can be very easily cheated. Thus it is always said of
them, that whenever they come into a hamlet, as they may occasionally do, to
buy anything, they always pay without bargaining whatever price is asked,
however exorbitant it may be. I have been told of their existence at Kapar village
(near Klang in Selangor), at Jugra, where it was said they might formerly be
heard paddling their boats upon the river when no boat was visible, and
elsewhere.