72 TWO RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES. 
The dramatis personae of the ceremony are: one, or 
more usually, several Bayoh of good reputation—a person, 
male or female who professes’ to have special power in the 
world of spirits: the sick person and other seekers after health 
who may happen to be present: the music makers who enliven 
the proceedings with the music of gongs of several kinds. The 
ceremony takes place in the house of the patient: it is usually 
attended by all the gay life of the neighbourhood, and society 
sends her representatives to lend’ their moral. support. 
‘It not infrequently happens that the Payun ceremony for 
a sick person as first suggested by the dream of some interested 
old lady, who seeks an early opportunity for suggesting 
recourse to this ceremony to the relatives of the unhappy man. 
When it is decided upon, all the preparations are effected so 
that the ceremony can take place at full moon: the relatives 
and friends all assist in the tedious operations and at an early — 
date they send for the Bayoh whoistoact as master of ceremonies. 
Under the Bayok’s directions, the room is decorated with 
coloured cloths and with long festoons of plaited palm leaves, 
whilst hanging from many parts of the room are gay 
streamers of plaited palm leaves fashioned into fantastic shapes 
—often of birds. 
During the actual ceremony, the lights from a hundred 
tiny candles add to the enchanted appearance of the scene. 
The ordinary apparatus of the Payun, viz. the swing, the 
boat, the house and the several dakans are often fa mily heir- 
looms which have been used many times before, but if these 
are not to hand, it is customary to borrow from a neighbour, 
or failing that, they must send for a tukang’ (skilled artisan) 
in such work. This man’s charges are high, for the necessary 
knowledge belongs only to few, and moreover, the work of 
making a good boat forinstance, occupies several tukangsfor many 
days: the tukang, however, is not a religious person in any sense. 
: The day before the ceremony commences, the Bayoh 
enters the house and there remains as a guest until the Payun 
is ended eight days afterwards. When all is ready, the room 
is furnished as follows:— . 3 
Jour. Straits Branch 
