RECORDS OF MALAY MAGIC. 9 
These baskets were carried into the bed-room, and laid in a 
row on the mat at the feet of the Rice-child, the largest basket 
being the nearest to the foot of the cradle, the next largest 
next and so on, finally the sarongs covering each basket being 
removed by the Pawang and the reaping-knives (penuwei) stuck 
in her hair, the entire row of baskets and the Rice-child were 
covered over with a long white cloth, and the wife of the mas- 
ter of the house was told to observe certain rules of taboo for 
three days. 
I was told by the Pawang that when the three reapers had 
each filled her basket they had to tie the leaves of three padi 
clumps together and digging up a lump of earth with the great 
toe of the left foot, insert it into the midst of each clump and 
repeat the following charm, as a precaution against the “ Leng- 
késa :?— 
Assalam aleikum nabi Tap, yang mémégangkan bumi 
Tétap-kan anak aku, 
Jangan rosak, jangan binasakan 
Tauhkan déripada jin dan sheitan. 
Dengan A-illah d. s. b.* 
The following were the rules of taboo to be observed dur- 
ing the three days. 
1. Money, rice, salt, oil, tamarinds, etc., were forbidden to 
leave the house, though they might enter it without harm being 
done. 
2. Perfect quiet must be observed, as in the case of a 
new born child. 
3. Hair might not be cut. 
4, The reapers, up to the end of their reaping, must not 
allow their shadows to fall on the rice in their baskets (‘‘ menideh 
bayang ”). 
5. The light placed near the head of the Rice-child’s head 
must not be allowed to go out at night, nor may the hearth 
fire be allowed to go out either by night or day, for the 
* A similiar charm used about here to keep the ‘‘ Lengkésa” still 
(‘‘tetapkan lengkésa ”) runs as follows :— 
Layang rundok layang melansi 
Sini ’kau dudok, sini ‘kau menanti, 
Bergrak bumi dengan langit 
Jangan-kau bergrak derisini. 
