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

accessories of Malay magic ceremonies (incense, three sorts of rice, etc.),
besides three wax tapers, one of which you will plant upon the brim of each of
the three jars.

When all is ready, drop the incense upon the embers, and as the smoke rises
repeat this charm:—

“If you are at  one with    me, rise    towards me, O   smoke;

If  you are not at  one with    me, rise    athwart me, O   smoke,

Either  to  right   or  left.”^120

As you say this, “catch” the first puff of smoke and inhale it (tangkap-lah
puchok asap, chium), as it rises towards you. If the smell is pleasant (sĕdap) it is
a good sign; if it has a scorched smell (hangit) it is bad; but if it smells offensive
(busok) no medicine can save the patient.

Next, before you look into the jars, take handfuls of “parched,” “washed,” and
“saffron” rice, and after fumigating them over the incense, strew them all round
the row of jars, saying as you do so:—

“Cluck, cluck!  souls   of  So-and-so,  all seven   of  you!^121

Come,   and let all of  us  here    together

See (about  the)    medicine    for (you)   O   souls   of  So-and-so.”

Here strew (tabor) the rice first to the right, then to the left, and then to the right
again.

Before removing the calladium-leaves from the jar-mouths, repeat the following:
—

“Peace  be  with    you,    Prophet ’Tap,   in  whose   charge  is  the earth,

Suawam, in  whose   charge  are the heavens,

Prophet Noah,   in  whose   charge  are the Trees,

Prophet Elias,  Planter of  Trees,

And Prophet Khailir (Khizr),    in  whose   charge  is  the water,

I   crave   permission  to  see the remedies    for So-and-so.”

Here remove the calladium-leaves from the jar-mouths, and taking one of the