1922. | Wan LELA. Some Malay Beliefs. 265 
a house, that also is a great cause for anger to some Malays, 
because. the bird, it seems, telis the people to 
Now the bird which was most praised by the Malays of 
former times was the murai (“ Straits’ robin’’), for when it 
called anywhere near a house, and was recognised, the 
people asked it for news, saying, ‘‘ What news do you bring, 
ady ?” and if their child, relation, or mother or father 
had gone far away, and they had no news, they asked the 
bird, saying, ‘‘ If so-and-so is coming back or so-and-so will 
arrive, fly away quietly.” And sometimes the bird imme- 
diately flew away or it kept quite, and the information thus 
given was on occasions true; but sometimes the bird would 
not be quiet, but went on calling: then they said to it 
“ Don’t lie to us: if you lie, you shall be eaten by snake or 
a civet-cat.”” So Malays did not like to catch or kill murat, 
aud, if they got one anywhere of old, they combed it nicely 
with oil and then loosed it, saying, ‘ Go lady; fly away 
safely. 
