CH. XIV MATILALEM 351 



The demon of jealousy tormented him now more than 

 ever, and he fled away into the forest to free himself from 

 its oppression. But even there he obtained no rest, and 

 with the thought of the slave ever before him he felt that 

 his heart would burst with vengeance. ' What a scandal 

 it is,' he thought, ' that my wife should be in love with 

 my own slave ! ' No, he could not punish him for that ; 

 he must seek for some other cause to give him his deserts. 

 At last a plan occurred to him by which he could bring 

 the matter to a crisis. ' Thief and slave are synonymous 

 terms ; I will hide my betel-nut box here ' — a valuable piece 

 of work mounted in silver. 



Eeturnuig home he shouted, ' Wehe mei u lelemaan ! ' 

 (' Here, bring me my pinang box, slave ! ') ' Sulah wela ' — 

 ' Sapristi, wife, bring me my pinang box.' They sought for 

 the box high and low, but of -course in vain. Then said 

 Makalew, ' The slave has stolen it ; he must be punished.' 

 ' No, don't say that,' pleaded his wife ; ' the slave is inno- 

 cent. Perhaps the box is hidden away somewhere, and you 

 have forgotten where it was put.' ' Ah,' said the hunter, 

 ' you would try to screen him. I thought as much, but 

 nevertheless he shall be punished as he deserves.' ' Fi ! ' 

 said his wife, ' punish him without cause ? That is cer- 

 tainly not the will of the gods. First prove that he is guilty 

 in the approved Tombulu fashion.' ' Good,' said the hunter, 

 ' matilalem ' (the ordeal by dipping) ' shall decide between 

 us three — the husband, the wife, and the slave.' 



Departing then together, they sought a place in the 

 depths of the forest where the gods should decide between 

 them. 



' I am not guilty,' said the slave, ' but the gods will 

 decide justly between us. I wiU willingly undergo the 

 matilalem with you, and the result of it will prove my 

 honour.' 



