XVITI. RICE CEREMONIES IN NEGRI SEMBILAN. 
By R. O. WINSTEDT. 
This account was collected in the Tampin district ten 
years ago. 
Planting out Seed. 
Neutralizing rice-paste is used along with daun ati-ati, 
gandarusa, daun ribu-ribu, daun si-dingin, daun si-puleh, aad 
a lump of white clay. 
The rice-paste and the five herbs are taken and the clay 
is kneaded with water and put in a cup. Incense is burnt 
and the bundles of herbs fumigated. ‘hen the tips of the herbs 
are dipped in the clayey water, and that water is sprinkled 
over the seed before it is sown, these words being recited :— 
Tépong tawar/ tépong jati 
Dapat mas bérkati-katt / 
Aku ménépong tawar béras padi ; 
Sudah bérisi, maka ménjadi. 
“* Rice-paste without speck, 
I’ll get gold by the peck, 
I charm my rice husked and in ear ; 
I’ll get full grain within the year.’’ 
The husbandman sows the seed with his left hand, 
crying :— 
A’s-salam alaikum, 
Ibu-ka bumi ! bapa-ku ayer! 
Aku ménépongkan anak-ku, 
Si-dang sari, si-dang rupa sari / 
Jangan lengah di-btlota orang / 
Jangan lengah di-ménsiang orang ! 
Kur, stmangat! Mari-lah pulang ! 
Ini tangkal Langkesa/ 
Jangan éngkau ta’ tumboh. 
Aku tahu asal mula tngkau jadi : 
Uri témbuni kétuban asal mula éngkau jadi. 
Peace be unto ye, 
Father earth, mother water ! 
