Page 171 - Malay sketches

BER-HANTU

small sheaf of the grass called daun sambau tied
tightly together and cut square at top and bottom.
This chddak she shook, together with her whole
body, by a stiffening of the muscles, while all eyes
were fixed upon the taper.
At first the flame was steady, but by and by, as
the screamed more to attract the
singers loudly
attention of the the wick to
laggard Spirit, began
and and it was manifest to the
quiver flare up,
initiated that the Jin was introducing himself into
the candle. By some means the Pdwang, who was
now supposed to be " possessed " and no longer
conscious of her actions, became aware of this, and
she made obeisance to the taper, sprinkling the
floor round it with saffron-coloured rice and per-
fumed water ; then, rising to her feet and followed
by the attendant, she performed the same ceremony
before each male member of the reigning family
present in the room, murmuring all the while a
string of gibberish addressed to the Spirit. This
done, she resumed her seat on the mat, and, after a
brief pause, the minstrels struck up a different air,
and, singing the praises of another Jin, called upon
him to come and relieve the King's distress.
I ascertained that each Malay State has its own
special Spirits, each district is equally well provided,