Musang Berjanggut. 
It is hardly necessary to point out that this story of the 
Bearded Civet with its note of rollicking farce and its allusions 
to a pedestal lamp is not in origin Malayan, though much local 
colour has been added. It is sometimes acted on the stage of 
the Bangsawan. The present version has been written down 
by Raja Haji Yahye bin Raja Muhammad Ali of Perak and 
includes much valuable detail on wedding customs and so on. 
I am indebted to Mr. A. J. Sturrock for having romanized much 
of the manuscript and for assisting me in the preparation of the 
English synopsis. 
R. O. WINSTEDT. 
The Tale of the Bearded Civet. 
Shah Ariman king of Shahar Desa was childless; so he 
adopted a son of the people and named him Kemala-al-arifin. 
When Kemala-al-arifin had grown up, the king bade him choose 
a bride from the daughters of the chiefs, but the youth entreated 
to be excused, saying I would seek as my wife a true woman 
and in this country there are only females.’”’ The king was 
amazed. ‘If that be so,” said he, ‘go seek your true woman, 
for greatly I desire to see her: for her dowry and in provision 
for your journey I give three thousand pieces, but fail in your 
quest and your life shall pay forfeit for the shame ycu have 
brought on our women.” The king further bade him return 
within a year. 
So Kémala-al-arifin prepared for the journey: bought 
stores of rice, spices, sugar, fish and coconuts, and mixed them 
all together in one bag. Thenhe set out, up hill, down dale, by 
Jour. Straits Branch R.A. Soc., No. 52, 1908 
