tide, which is supposed to carry the boat (and the spirits with it) “to another
country.” One of the charms used at this stage of the ceremony even mentions
the name of the country to which the devils are to be carried, the place singled
out for this distinction being the Island of Celebes! The passage in question runs
as follows:—
“Peace be unto you, Devils of the sea, and Demons of the sea,
Neither on cape, nor bay, nor sandbank be ye stuck or stranded!
This vessel (lanchang) is that of Arong,^140
Do you assist in guarding this offering from his grandchildren,
And vex not this vessel.
I request you to escort it to the land of Celebes,
To its own place.
By the grace of,” etc.This same charm is used mutatis mutandis for the Balei (Spirit-hall).
A common form of the “Lanchang” charm runs as follows:—
“Ho, elders of the upper reaches,
Elders of the lower reaches,
Elders of the dry land,
Elders of the river-flats,
Assemble ye, O people, Lords of hill and hill-foot,
Lords of cavern and hill-locked basin,
Lords of the deep primeval forest,
Lords of the river-bends,
Come on board this Lanchang, assembling in your multitudes,
So may ye depart with the ebbing stream,
Depart on the passing breeze,
Depart in the yawning earth,
Depart in the red-dyed earth.
Go ye to the ocean which has no wave,
And the plain where no green herb grows,
And never return hither.
But if ye return hither,
Ye shall be consumed by the curse.
At sea ye shall get no drink,