199
Strips of bamboo or fronds of palm-leaf braided into an open square shape with cords attached
to the four corners, the ends of the cords being joined so that it can be hung up. ↑
200
Buah kĕras, the “Candle-nut.” ↑
201
The cut rice is beaten, by handfuls, against the inner edge of the bucket so that the grain falls
into the bucket; this process is called mĕmbanting padi, a phrase here rendered by
“threshing.” ↑
202
The tuai or pĕnuwai is a much smaller instrument than the sickle (sabit) and cuts only a few
ears at a time, vide supra, p. 58. ↑
203
A koyan, as a measure of weight, contains 40 pikuls = 5333⅓ lbs.
Rather over 20 gallons (gantang) of rice (padi) go to a pikul.
The term koyan is also used as a measure of capacity, in which sense it contains 800 gantangs.
The term gantang has been rendered here by “gallon,” of which it is at present the legal
equivalent, but the native gantang had a standard varying according to locality. ↑
204
J.R.A.S., S.B., No. 30, pp. 297–304. ↑
205
On my asking her what these names signified, the Pawang told me that “s’ri gading” meant the
husk, and “gĕmala gading” the kernel or grain of the rice-fruit. ↑
206
Menangkabau and Naning pronunciation for bĕrpuar. Puar is the name of a jungle plant, said
to be akin to cardamom, the stem of which is used as a sort of javelin in this mock combat. [In
Selangor this mock combat is called singketa.—W.S.] ↑
207
Bĕras bĕrtih, “parched” rice. ↑
208
Five would probably be nearer the mark, but Malay chronology is very uncertain. ↑
209
J.R.A.S., S.B., No. 29, pp. 7–12. ↑