them, neither suffer evil to befall them, do not strike against them as Thou
passest by. I place them under Thy charge, together with the actors and actresses,
the musicians and bridegrooms, the buffoons, both young and old, also the
spectators and the owners of this house and compound; suffer them not to be
afflicted with headaches, throbbing pains, nor yet with shooting pains, nor yet
with toothache, nor with itchings and skin irritations, nor with burning
sensations; for I pray that they may be suffered to get cool and refreshed like
unto the snake, the chinta-mâni.’
“The Pâwang here scatters parched rice stained with saffron in every direction,
and chants the following incantation the while: ʿPeace be unto thee! I am about
to move from within this enclosure four paces in each direction of the four
corners of the universe. O ye Holy Ones who are present in this place, within the
space of these four paces towards the four extremities of the universe, be not
startled nor deranged, do not remove to a distance, and be not angry or wrathful,
for thy servant cometh not hither to vie with ye in wisdom within this thy
territory and village. Your servant cometh to satisfy the desires of all the people
who own this place, and your servant desires to abandon himself unto ye, his
guardians, the Holy Ones of this place, and thus presuming he asks pardon of ye,
and would commend to your care himself, and the actors and actresses, O
Grandsires, ye Holy Ones of this place; and in like manner would he commend
unto ye the musicians and the bridegrooms, the buffoons, both old and young;
and he prays ye not to show envy towards them, nor yet to oppress them, nor do
them any injury; suffer them not to be destroyed or injured; and he entreats thee,
his Grandsires, and all your many imps, to refrain from striking against them as
ye pass by them, neither to address them, nor to pinch or nip them, and let not
your youths, O Grandsires, remove our means of livelihood; and your servant
prays ye to refrain from destroying or damaging, injuring or hurting the whole
company of the ma’iong, and suffer them to be cool and refreshed like unto the
snake, the chinta-mâni.