60 RAJA AMBONG. 
child for the first time, so the husbands having been seized 
and bound to prevent disturbance, the unfortunate ladies were 
taken to the scene of the launch and made to lie down in 
front of the vessel. Then amid the imcantations jorsthes 
hunchback and the shouts of the populace, the Batara Salu- 
dang Mayang glided swiftly down to the sea and shot out 
into mid-ocean (laut yang lepas ombak yang gahari), where 
it was lost to view. The ladies got up none the worse for 
their adventure, and returned home.* 
Seven days and seven nights passed without the reappear- 
ance of the boat, and then the hunchback, with the permission 
of the Raja, performed some incantations at the landing-place, 
at the end of which he waved and beckoned with a yellow 
cloth, and presently the surface of the sea was disturbed and 
then the Batara Saludang Mayang came in sight gliding 
swiftly towards the land like a bird on the wing. When she 
arrived, the hunchback went on board and performed various 
precautionary ceremonies, and then the Raja and CHE ALANG 
and all the Chiefs went on board and examined her. They 
found her fully armed and equipped—mariam dua sa-haluan 
dt timba ruang dua sa-sunting pada ekor tahan turut dan 
rantaka sambilang tujyuh snapang pemuras sa-bilang lantei 
dan bota ber -hubang at haluan, pelangt minum di timba 
ruang, gin sambahyang diatas hurong, dan langsuyar arak 
mengilat di puchuk trang. 
Ordering CHE ALANG to have everything ready for a start 
on the following day, Raja AMBONG went home, but though 
everything was ready next day, he did not leave, for his sis- 
ter, Princess BONGSU CHANDRA RUPA, whom he proposed to 
leave in charge of the country in his absence, loudly objected 
to being left behind, and cried and sobbed and demanded to 
be taken with her brother. Night came and when the Princess 
had gone to bed and the household was fast asleep (Lérélap 
tidor), Raja AMBONG unlocked a box in which he kept cer- 
tain garments possessing magic properties and arms of super- 
natural origin. ‘These he put on, and then, after due observ- 
———_—_——— 
* Compare the Menangkabau legend told by Newsotp, II, 221. 
