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

(a) Air

1. WIND AND WEATHER CHARMS

Not the least important attribute of the Malay magician in former days was his
power of controlling the weather—a power of which Malay magic incantations
still preserve remarkable traces.

Thus when the wind fails and the sails of a boat are flapping (kalau layer
k’lepek-k’lepek), a Selangor magician would not unfrequently summon the wind
in the following terms:—

“Come   hither, Sir,    come    hither, my  Lord,

Let down    your    locks   so  long    and flowing.”

And if the wind is contrary he would say:—

“Veer   round,  Wind,   a   needle  or  twain   (of the compass),

A   needle  to  (let    me) fetch   Kapar.^1

However heavy   the merchandise that    I   carry   unassisted,

Let me  repair  to  Klang   for the (morning)   meal,

And Langat  for the (evening)   bathe.

Come    hither, Sir,    come    hither, my  Lord,

And let down    your    locks   so  long    and flowing.”

Again, if the wind grew violent he would say:—