Page 172 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

and there are even some to for indivi-
spare special
duals. In this particular State there are four prin-
cipal Jin; they are the Jin ka-rdja-an, the State
Spirit also called Junjong dunia uddra Supporter
of the Firmament ; Mdia uddra, the Spirit of the
Air; Mahkota si-raja Jin, the Crown of Royal
Spirits ; and S'tan Ali.
These four are known as Jin druah, Exalted
and are the of the Sultan
Spirits, they guardians
and the State. As one star exceeds another in
glory, so one Jin surpasses another in renown, and
I have named them in the order of their greatness.
In their honour four white and crimson umbrellas
were hung in the room, presumably for their use
when they arrived from their distant homes. Only
the Sultan of the State is entitled to traffic with
; when summoned
these distinguished Spirits they
decline to move unless appealed to with their own
special invocations, set to their own peculiar music,
sung by at least four singers and led by a Beduan
of the The is
(singer) royal family. Jin ka-rdja-an
entitled to have the royal drums played by the State
drummers if his presence is required, but the other
three have to be satisfied with the instruments I
have described.
There are common devils who look after common
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