RECORDS OF MALAY MAGIC. 13 
their side; occasionally, however, the body is uncovered, and I 
was told of one Inche Fatimah, of Jugra, who when reaping 
stripped herself bare, with the exception of a sarong which 
reached to her waist, and when asked why she did it said it was 
to make the rice husks thinner, as she was tired of pounding 
thick husked rice. 
Sowing the Seed. 
This was a ceremony which, of course, at the time I could 
not witness. It was described by the Pawang as follows :— 
A sort of square hearth of timber (‘‘galang dapor”) is made 
in the centre of the field, and the following trees planted one at 
corner :— 
1.—A young banana (of the variety called ‘“ pinang”’) 
2.—A clump of serei (lemon grass.) 
3.—A single stem of the sugar-cane called “ tebu 
lanjong ” : 
4.—A plant of saffron (turmeric). 
In the centre of the hearth a cocoanut shell filled with 
water is deposited with great care, and next morning the 
auspices are taken ; it being considered a bad sign if either the 
timbers of the hearth have been moved however slightly out of 
position, or if the water in the cocoanut has been spilt, and a 
good sign if both are found exactly as they were placed or if an 
insect such as an ant is found in the water. If the omens are 
good, the first seven holes for the seed are made with the dibble, 
the Pawang reciting the following charm :— 
Bismillah d. s. b. 
Assalam aleikum nabi Tap yang memegang bumi 
Aku menumpangkan anakku Sri gading gemala one 
Didalam anam bulan akan katujoh 
Aku datang mengambil balik 
Dengan laillah 
Kur Semangat, Kur Semangat, Kur Semangat 
Malays, however, appear unable to describe such ceremonies 
adequately, and I hope on a future occasion to be able to take 
down the full details which can only be obtained by an eye witness. 
I may add that the ceremony used at planting out the young 
padi is described by Mr. Blagden in No. 29 of the Society’s 
Journal, to which the reader may refer. 
