Page 213 - Malay sketches

MALAY SUPERSTITIONS
to be the abiding-place of a familiar spirit until
lured therefrom by the solicitations of someone
who, at dead of night, stands over the grave and
by potent incantations persuades the bdjang to come
forth.
Polong and Pelsit are but other names for Bdjang,
the latter is used in the State of Kedah
chiefly
where it is considered rather chic to have a pelsit.
A Kedah the other the advant-
lady day, eulogising
ages of possessing a familiar spirit (she said that
amongst other things it gave her absolute control
over her husband and the power of annoying people
who offended her), thus described the method of
securing this useful ally :
" You go out," she said, " on the night before
the full moon and stand with your back to the moon
and your face to an ant-hill so that your shadow
falls on the ant-hill. Then you recite certain jampi
and to embrace
(incantations), bending forward try
your shadow. If you fail try again several times,
repeating more incantations. If not successful go
the next night and make a further effort, and the
night after if necessary three nights in all. If
you cannot then catch your shadow, wait till the
same day on the following month and renew the
attempt. Sooner or later you will succeed, and,
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