36 RECORDS OF MALAY MAGIC. 
course of preparation, but what most drew the attention 
were three large sacrificial trays, which had been prepared for the 
reception of the destined offerings by being lined with fresh 
banana leaves, but which were otherwise absolutely empty, the 
offerings themselves being displayed on a raised platform in front 
of them. Shortly after our arrival the ceremony of filling these 
trays commenced. First, the Pawang took a large bowl of 
parched rice and fovred it into each tray until there wasa 
laver of the rice about an inch deep in each tray. Then he took 
rice stained with saffron and deposited about a hand-ful of it in 
the centre and four corners of each tray and then made exactly 
similar deposits of washed rice; next he deposited in the same 
way small portions of the sweet potato; the yam and the 
tapioca plant, banana and sirzh (there being two sets of these 
five portions, a set of five cooked and another of five uncooked 
offerings) and finally one cigarette to each portion. Next 
the head of a black goat (without blemish and without spot) 
which had been killed that morning before our a:rival was de- 
posited in the centre of the middle tray, and at the same time 
two of the feet were deposited in each of the side trays. To 
each portion were now added parts of the liver, lights, tripe and 
and other ‘‘ purtenances” of the victim, together with seven 
katupats and seven Jepats (each including a set of seven 
cooked and seven uncooked), five of the seven being suspended 
from the four strings which starting from each corner of the 
tray united in a point about a foot and a half above it and the 
other two in each case being deposited in the tray below, Five 
receptacles, made of banana leaves skewered with bamboo pins 
were now filled with arrack and deposited in each tray: the only 
exception being that the receptacle deposited in the centre of the 
central tray was filled with which the blood of the goat had 
been killed. A taper was now added to each portion, lighted, 
and the trays were complete. 
Every thing being now ready, Bilal Umma carrying a light- 
ed censer, walked thrice round the three trays towards the 
left; then, the five tapers of the left-hand tray having been light- 
ed and two of his men having been told off to carry the tray 
slung on a pole, we set off in a small procession along the sandy 
beach, and coming to a halt from fifty to sixty yards further on, 
caw the Bilal suspend the tray from the branch of a mangrove 
