40 CORAL AND ATOLLS 



in Malay communities. Spirits play an active part in all the 

 ceremonies and observances connected with the birth of a 

 child, and special precautions are taken to keep evil spirits far 

 away from new-born babies. 



Beneath the pillow upon which the baby lies is hidden a 

 parang — the ever-ready knife of the Malay — and in the bed 

 itself is placed a little broom, as a warning to noxious spirits 

 that they must keep far from the child. The custom of 

 placing a knife in the child's bed is very widespread through- 

 out the world, and it even exists in some parts of England 

 and Wales. 



If, by some visitation of evil influence, an island baby 

 chances to be born malformed, the handiwork of the devil is 

 at once recognised, and steps are taken to undo the mischief 

 wroup"ht by Satan. The observances practised at the birth of 

 a malformed child are curious, and concerning their utility — 

 or the reverse — all argument is vain, for no one may convince 

 people who have seen and known these things, the workings of 

 which are the expected outcomes of their recognised cause. 

 A woman who gives birth to a child that is in any way 

 deformed does not immediately begin to deplore her hard 

 fate, or to assume that the harm that is done is beyond repair, 

 for she recognises that the devil has done the mischief, and 

 she knows that if she sets properly about the thing she may 

 make him undo his handiwork. No notice whatever is taken 

 of the unfortunate child, but it is covered with a cloth and 

 placed aside ; the mother and the midwife discuss any general 

 topics of conversation and try to pretend that nothing has 

 happened. All concerned are determined that they will take 

 no notice of the child while it bears upon its body the imprint 

 of Satan's evil visitation. And, as a rule, the trick succeeds, 

 for when at length the babe is uncovered, the deformity is 

 gone, and the child is as strong and as whole as though it 

 had never carried on its frame the manifestations of Satan's 

 influence. 



I know a little boy whose head is shaped just as are the 

 heads of other little boys, and yet, when he came into the 



