THE PINJIH RHINO. 23 



we might be allowed to follow the rhinoceros (which, 

 by the way, was throughout the evening spoken of 

 as a buffalo), and the spirit's immediate reply was 

 a downright refusal, saying that on no account would 

 he lose the animal. This caused a sensation amongst 

 the audience, and there was much shaking of heads, 

 but Pa' Senik was not to be beaten. He began with 

 cajolery, and when that had no effect tried what is 

 vulgarly known as bounce. Who was this spirit 

 that he should take this defiant attitude? To this 

 the spirit answered that he was a thousand years 

 old : Pa' Senik declared that he was a thousand 

 years older. "Ten thousand years old," replied the 

 spirit. " Ten thousand years older," retorted Pa' 

 Senik, who thereupon challenged his adversary to a 

 contest as to which was the stronger. When the 

 challenge was accepted, Pa' Senik seized a handful 

 of parched rice and threw it full in the face of his 

 adversary, and then leant forward, glaring at him 

 over the smouldering censer. His opponent immedi- 

 ately seized a huge bowl of rice and raised it in the 

 act to hurl; but when his arm reached the topmost 

 point above his shoulder from which it would turn 

 to throw, he suddenly stiffened, and the whole of 

 his body became rigid. For a few seconds he sat 

 there living and motionless as the statue of a 

 discobolus : and then the bowl dropped from his 

 nerveless fingers and fell crashing to the floor. Sang 

 Kala Kaja Megang Eimba was beaten in contest. He 

 cast himself forth, and Che Mat was thrown into a 

 third frenzy, becoming possessed of a spirit named 

 Awang Mahat. Unfortunately Awang Mahat be- 



