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

(Perpustakaan Sri Jauhari) #1

being split up and bent or opened outwards for several inches, and a piece of
rattan (cane) being wound in and out among the split ends, so as to form a sort of
funnel (about nine inches in diameter at the top), which is lined with banana leaf,
filled with earth, and planted vertically in the ground, great care being taken to
see that it does not lean out of the perpendicular. Live embers are placed upon it,
incense crumbled over it (between the finger and thumb), and the appropriate
charm recited. A specimen of a charm or formula used during the burning of


incense will be found in the Appendix.^125


The kĕtupats are called—(1) S’ri nĕg’ri (seven-cornered), or the “luck of the
country”; (2) Buah k’ras (six-cornered), or the “candle-nut”; (3) Bawang puteh
(six-cornered), or “garlic”; (4) Ulu pĕngayoh (four-cornered), or the “paddle-
handle”; (5) Pasar (five-cornered), or the “market”; (6) Bawang merah (six-
cornered), or the “onion”; (7) Pasar Pahang (six-cornered), or the “Pahang
market”; (8) Tĕlor, or the “hen’s egg.”


The lĕpats are called—(1) Lĕpat daun niyor (5–6 inches long and made of
cocoa-nut leaves); (2) Lĕpat tilam (of plantain leaves); (3) Lĕpat daun palas (of
palas leaves, three-sided).


Diminutive models of various objects (also made of cocoa-nut leaves) are often
added, e.g. burong ponggok, the owl; kĕr’bau, the buffalo; rusa, the stag;
tĕkukur, the ground-dove; kĕtam, the crab; and (but very rarely) kuda, the horse.


The things deposited in the tray are intended for the spirits (Hantus) themselves;
the refuse on the ground beneath it for their slaves (hamba).


Of the food in the tray, the cooked food is for the king of the spirits (Raja
Hantu), who is sometimes said to be the Wild Huntsman (Hantu Pĕmburu) and
sometimes Batara Guru, and the uncooked for his following. But of the two
eggs, the uncooked one is alleged to be for the Land-spirit (i.e. the Wild
Huntsman), and the cooked for the Sea-spirit; this assertion, however, requires
some further investigation before it can be unreservedly accepted.


The Wave-Offering

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