1916.] I. H. N. Evans: Snkai of the L'ln Kampar. 27 



these observances practised while still a youth. In choosing 

 a site tor a new clearing, a kind of divination was practised to 



see whether the Earth Spirit would allow the ground to be 

 used. When a suitable piece of ground had been chosen, the 

 Sakai went to the site proposed for iJie new clearing and 

 spells. The} then swepl all rubbish from a 

 small plot of ground, and enclosed it within a frame made of 

 four pieces of wood each aboul a f< 01 and a half long. The 

 pieces of wood were called galang dapor. Incense was burnt 

 within the square, and, ll much smoke arose from it, this was 

 that :! padi crop would be plentiful. 

 Next, little cups made of lebnk leaves containing incense, 

 water, lebak leaves and rice-flour were placed within the 

 square. The man who performed the ceremony then covered 

 the square over with leaves and everybody went home. If 

 this man dreamed on that night that the place was not good 

 another site was chosen for the clearing. Dreams about fire 

 or of a piece of wood wrapped in a mat (i.e. a bod}- ready for 

 burial) were bad. Providing that the celebrant's dreams were 

 favourable, the Sakai went the next morning to the clearing 

 site and uncovered the square of ground which they had 

 swept. If the ground under the covering of leaves was un- 

 disturbed, the\- looked upon this as a sign that they might 

 make the proposed clearing, but if they found any adventitious 

 substances under the leaves, such as rubbish of any kind, or 

 twigs and scraps of w-ood, another site had to be chosen and 

 the performance repeated. If some rubbish had merely fallen 

 on the leaves covering the square, the clearing might be made, 

 though this was regarded as a sign that somebodv from 

 another settlement would die in their house. If, however, a 

 clearing were to be made after rubbish had been found under 

 the covering leaves, it was thought, that this would result in 

 the death of a man of the house. 



When the young padi has sprung up no bamboos or 

 rattans must be cut near the clearing until the crop is ripe. 



The season for sowing padi is when the petai fruits are 

 ripe and the durian and prah nearly so. 



Another curious Sakai superstition is that the earth must 

 not be struck with a stick, this action being thought to irritate 

 the Earth Spirit. 



Tabu signs are hung up across the approaches to the 

 clearing and outside the houses on the first day of padi sowing 

 to warn the people from other settlements that they may not 

 enter, but the tabu period is only for one day. 



In making a clearing the first step is to cut away the 

 undergrowth. This work proceeds for three days, and then a 

 one day's stop is made. When the undergrowth has all been 

 cleared the felling of the big trees begins, and heie again after 

 working for three days the Sakai rest for a day. 



During the first three days of clearing undergrowth it rs 

 tabu to touch the chopping knife of a man who is engaged in 



