Page 173 - Malay sketches

BER-HANTU

people : such as Hantu Songkei, Hantu Maldyu and
"
Hantu Elian; the last the Tiger Devil/' but out
"
of politeness he is called Blian," to save his
feelings.
Then there is Kemdla the "Wonderful
ajdib,
Jewel/' Israng, Raja Ngah's special familiar, and a
host of others. Most hantu have their own special
Pdwangs, and several of these were carrying on
similar proceedings in adjoining buildings, in order
that the sick monarch might reap all the benefits to
be derived from a consultation of experts, and, as
one spirit after another notified his advent by the
it was not
upstarting flame of the taper, impossible
to feel that one was into the very best
getting
society.
Meanwhile a sixteen-sided stand, about six inches
high and shaped like this diagram, had been placed
on the floor near the Pdwang's
mat. The stand was decorated
with yellow cloth ; in its centre
stood an enormous candle,
while round it were gaily de-
corated rice and toothsome
delicacies specially prized by Jin. There was
room to sit on this which
just stand, is called
Petrdna panchalogam (meaning a seat of this par-