Vol. V, No. 3.] Lhe Theory of Souls among the Malays. 63 
[NV.S.] 
a. 
Regarding the souls of mineral ores I doubt whether the 
Malays conceive of them as being in an exact sense the 
equivalents of house-souls or boat-souls. They appear rather 
semangat, sometimes even déwa. Spells are frequently recited 
also believe that the possession of knowledge, especially im 
owledge, is dangerous. They think it quite enough, in order 
to subdue a spirit, to pretend to knowledge they do not serious- 
ly claim to possess, for if a man really knows the origin of 
any thing or being, he has that thing or being in his power and, 
unconscious of his own strength, may work havoc by some un- 
‘guarded word. The charm begins in this way—I need not quote 
it all— 
Peace be with you, O child of the Solitary Silver Jin. 
I know your origin. 
You dwell upon the yellow clouds. 
Your place of penance is in the sea of Balongan Darah. 
Your place of penance is a pool of every river. 
Your place of becoming isin the bay of the dead winds, etc.* 
1 Malay Magic, p. 2. 
2 T have not followed Skeat’s translation exactly; see the Malay 
version op. cit 
