RECORDS OF MALAY MAGIC. 21 
wards learnt was the spirit language (Bhasa Hantu) that he 
was “ going to lie down” (which he accordingly did, lying 
down on his back and drawing his sarong over his head, till the 
latter was completely shrouded from sight): the invocation 
meanwhile continuing we sat for some minutes in the rapt 
silence of excectation, till at length with a suddenness, which 
in itself was startling, the moment of ‘* possession ” arrived, and 
the Pawang with a violent kick rolled flat over on to his face. 
A brief interval ensued, and a second but less violently demon- 
strative spasm was followed by a dry and ghostly cough and a 
moment later the Pawang with head still shrouded, suddenly 
sat bolt upright facing the solitary figure of the tambourine 
player. After a brief suspense, he fronted round to the three 
jars and removed the caladium leaves which served as lids. He 
then took a taper and having kindled it at a lamp which was 
standing just behind the jars, planted it firmly on the rim of the 
first jar (counting from the right) which he had previously pre- 
pared by spilling upon it a little wax from the flaring taper. 
Similar tapers were planted on the rims of the second and third 
jars respectively, and after an interval he partook of betel leaf, 
which was formally presented to him by one of the women pre- 
sent, and which he ate in a leisurely fashion crooning all the 
while to himself. This refreshment concluded, the Pawang took 
from his girdle one of a couple of charm-stones (batu penawar) 
which he carried with him, and proceeded to rub them over the 
patient’s neck and shoulders. 
Having completed this part of his task, he again faced 
about with the suddenness that characterized all his proceedings 
and put or a new white jacket, and a head cloth, both of which 
had-been placed ready for his use; then from its scabbard, and 
girding up his sarong at the waist, he drew a richly wrought 
knife, proceeded tc hold it over the censer and then returned it to 
its scabbard. He next took three silver 20 cent pieces (called daiu 
buyong or jar-stones) and after charming them dropped one into— 
each of the three jars in turn. Having done so took a long 
inspection of each, shading his eyes with his hand from the light 
of the burning tapers. He now charmed several handfuls of 
rice, V1Z., parched rice, washed rice, and rice coloured with saffron 
respectively, and after a further inspection declared with a strange 
squeaky voice in the spirit language that the coins were lying 
