THE MENTRA TRADITIONS. 
i 2 ea at aw ae ew a a a a 
PHE following traditions were communicated to me by Batin 
e Pa’ inan, who claims to be the head of all the Batins of 
a the Méntra tribes. He has resided in Johol for the last 
fifteen years or so. His original name was Konot, and his native 
place was Tanah Taseh in J iene 
Some of these legends somewhat resemble Sane stories on the 
same subjects. 
Ttuan prpiwaH made the earth, and lives beneath it; it is sup- 
ported by an iron staff sustained by iron cross-bars ; beneath these 
again is Tanah Nyayek, which is mhabited by a sort of sétan, who 
have children not born in the ordinary way, but pulled out of the 
pit of the stomach. They were visited by Mérrana, the first 
Péyang, who brought back this account of them. 
TtHan prpiwau dwells beneath Tanah Nyayek, and by his power 
supports all above him. 
The earth was first peopled through Mérrane. the first Péya ng, 
and Biito his younger brother. Their mother was Tanan SAKEPAL 
(a handful of earth) and their father Aver SatitiK (a drop of 
water). 
They came from Tanah Bangun in the sky, and returned to it, 
taking with them a house from Ulu Kénaboi, on the other side of 
Jélébu, which flows into the Pahang. Béto died, and when he was 
buried, a m?ngkdrong* came towards the grave, and Mérrane 
threw his pdrang at it, and cut off his tail, and the méngkdrong ran 
away leaving his tail behind him, and BExto thereupon came to life 
again, and left his grave and returned to his house. 
* Wétngkdrong, lizard, small variety. 
