RECORDS OF MALAY MAGIC. 15 
rice-child is conceived of as a child, or as this mannikin-soul (in 
the shape of a child ) and it is probab! e that few if any of the 
devotees of the padi-spirit could themselves draw a distinction 
between the two conceptions. 
On the other hand, the sugar-cane stem is undoubtedly, like 
our own May-branch or May-pole, a sign of fertility; the iron 
nail represents iron which is a charm against evil spirits: when 
the Pawang turns up the whites of her eyes it is to affect, by 
sympathy, the cleaning and whitening of the rice; the click, or 
contraction of the throat before swallowing, is intended by similar 
means to make the rice eat well and stowly. Thus again, when 
the Fatimah stripped herself to reap, she no doubt was thoroughly 
convinced that by doing so she would make the rice-husks thinner, 
and so be able, to save herself trouble in pounding the rice. Simi- 
larly the birth of the kittens was supp°sed not merely to portend, 
but actually to play its part in bringing about the birth of the 
rice-spirit, so as to give it a prosperous conclusion. In this way 
the greater part of these ceremonies can be interpreted and ren- 
dered intelligible to many who, not possessing the key to their 
mysteries, are too easily inclined to regard these old- world 
customs as mere childish folly, entirely devoid of any real 
significance, instead of appreciating them at their true value. 
THE TIGER SPIRIT. 
In the latter part of 1896 at Jugra, in Selangor, I witnessed, 
by appointment, the ceremony of invoking the Tiger Spirit for 
the benefit of a sick man named Brahim. 
Punctually at the hour appointed (7 p.m.) I reached the 
house, where I was received by my Malay friend and ascending 
the house-ladder, found myself comfortably seated on a mat in 
front of the very spot where the medicine man was expected 
to perform the intended ceremony. 
On entering I found some nine persons present, including 
the nearest relatives of the sick man, and | was told that although 
it is not necessary for the same persons to be present on each 
of the three nights during which the ceremony lasts, the greatest 
care must be taken that the number present on the first night 
must not be varied. 
