Page 170 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

The woman in male attire was the Pdwang, the
Raiser of Spirits, the Witch, not of Endor, but of
as great repute in her own country and among her
own In
people. ordinary life she was an amusing
lady named Raja Ngah, a scion of the reigning
house on the female side and a member of a family
skilled in all matters to occultism. In a
pertaining
corner of the room were five or six
girls holding
native drums, instruments with a skin stretched
over one side and this is beaten with
only, usually
the fingers. The leader of this orchestra was the
daughter of Raja Ngah.
Shortly after I sat down, the proceedings began
by the Pdwang covering her head and face with a
silken while the orchestra to a
cloth, began sing
weird melody in an unknown tongue. I was told
it was the spirit language ; the air was one specially
pleasing to a particular Jin, or Spirit, and the
invocation, after reciting his praises, besought him
to come from the mountains or the sea, from under-
ground or overhead, and relieve the torments of the
King.
As the song continued, accompanied by the
rhythmical beating of the drums, the Pdwang sat
with shrouded head in front of the lighted taper,
holding in her right hand against her left breast a