143
Swettenham, Malay Sketches, pp. 153–159. Another excellent account, also by an eye-witness,
of a similar ceremony will be found in J.R.A.S. S.B., No. 12, pp. 222–232. ↑
144
Studies in Brown Humanity, p. 46. ↑
145
Bintang, a star, means “the eye” in Malay ghost language. ↑
146
About ⅚ lb. avoirdupois. ↑
147
A maiam is 1/16th of a bungkal and equal to 52 grains. ↑
148
The peeling-knife (pisau raut) is mentioned because it is dreaded by the demons, who hurt
themselves (it is alleged) by treading on one end of it, when, owing to its curved blade, the
other end flies up and wounds them. Such spirits as the Wild Huntsman are specially
mentioned as being afraid of it. Vide p. 118, supra. ↑
149
Swettenham, Malay Sketches, pp. 208–210. ↑
150
This is a description of Malay dancing from the European point of view; the reason of the
“undoubted fascination which it has for the Malays” being no doubt the fact that for them it has
a real meaning, which by Europeans (like that of the Malay four-rhymed stanza or pantun) is
quite inadequately understood. ↑
151
In 1875. ↑
152
The attitude is that obtained by transferring the body directly from a kneeling to a sitting
position. ↑
153
Swettenham, Malay Sketches, ch. vii. pp. 44–52. ↑
154
This dance is said to be borrowed from the Arabs. ↑
155