XXX. ETHNOLOGICAL MISCELLANEA. 
By Ivor H. N. Evans, M.A. 
(A) Notes ON MALAY BELIEFS AND CUSTOMS. 
(i) Sheet lightning is called kilat gajah (elephant light- 
ning), as it is thought that when it is seen, elephants are 
journeying through the distant jungle. (Malays of Batu 
Kurau Perak, and also those of Pekan, Pahan 
(ii) If hornets build a nest on a house, it is a sign that 
the occupants are about to leave it (Malays ‘of Batu Kurau, 
Perak). 
(iii) A riddle from Pekan :— 
Ia, ia, tttapi bukan ia, tlapi ia mati kérana ia, 
The answer to this is an artificial spinning-bait (kachaz) 
which is often made in the shape of a fish, the material 
generally being mother-of-pearl. A rough translation of the 
riddle is :-—‘‘ It’s it, but not it, but they die because of it.”’ 
(i.e. It’s a fish, but not a fish, but they die because of it}. 
(iv) A vain charm. —This is recited by children of 
Pekan, Pahang, when a storm appears to be approaching, 
the object being to drive away the threatening rain. Very 
probably the formula may have once been used by grown-ups 
in all seriousness. 
Sana ktpala béruang ; stint képala itek . 
Sana bahagi tuang ; sini jangan sa’ titek. 
There the head of a bear; here the head of a duck. 
Let it pour there; but don’t let’s have a drop here. 
(v) The people of Matang Pasir, Linggi, whom they go 
to gather cockles (s:put kérang) will not go ashore from their 
boats at Kuala Linggi, on their way home, as they say that, 
when they do so the Kuala Linggi Malays always tell them in 
fun that some one has died, and, in consequence of this, all 
their cockles die and become unsaleable. (From a Malay of 
Matang Pasir, Linggi, Negri Sembilan. ) 
(vi) The custom of burning evil-smelling rubbish of a parti- 
cular kind in order to drive away spirits is very common 
among the Malays. Raja Mutlak of Kuala Langat, Selangor 
tells me that the substances burnt are deserted birds’ nests, 
rubbish from cross-roads, cobwebs and rubbish greater from 
the floors of deserted houses. These should be burn 
old wooden gan‘ang measure which has been banded dove 
for several cee aeecenes (gantang ptsaka). The various kinds 
of rubbish used are called rabun, but rabun also means dim- 
eyed or short aahted: the idea seems to be that the magical 
