THE BORIA. 141 



the 10th of Muharram when they are continued all night until 

 the following morning. Then the jaded troupe wends its way to 

 some previously selected .pleasure ground near a stream where after 

 a short mandi-mandi or cleansing they devote themselves to the 

 enjoyment of a well-spread table often with a ronggeng in accom- 

 paniment, until they disperse homewards soon after noon tired but 

 supremely happy. This feast and in fact all the refreshments sup- 

 plied during the performances as well as the incidental expenses 

 of riksha fares, etc. are supplied by the manager who also presents 

 each member of the troupe with the customary 25 cents when dis- 

 persing homewards after each night's performance; in addition to 

 this, the tukang karang, the star turns and the band are paid a 

 definite salary of two or three dollars a night, apart from any 

 present that they may receive from the audience. 



The financial aspect from the manager's point of view is often 

 none too bright, the only assets being the takings from each house 

 of from $5 to $10 or say $80 for an evening, and at the outside 

 $400 for the season. Against this are to be set the cost of outfit 

 $100, fares and salaries $150, expenses in connection with the feast 

 $100 or a final profit of $50. 



In Penang the Borias are often a day late in their reckoning 

 of the Muhammadan month so that their mandi-mandi falls on the 

 11th and not on the 10th of Muharram, which is the real Ashura 

 or Tenth i.e. the date of the death of Hussain at Kerbela, 



In Singapore and Malacca Boria performances in imitation 

 of those in Penang are held during the month of Saafar from the 

 20th onwards so as to terminate on Mandi Saafar with the usual 

 bathe and feast, but though popular at one time, only one Boria 

 troupe exists now in Singapore as against forty to fifty in Penang. 



Once upon a time the advent of the Boria season was rather 

 dreaded by the more peaceful Muhammadans in Penang on account 

 of the frequent collisions which took place between the two factions 

 of the red and white flags, the followers of two noted Sayids of 

 Acheen Street and Jelutong respectively, who had formed secret 

 societies in imitation of and in conjunction with the Chinese. But 

 of recent years this unruly element has died and only an echo 

 remains in an occasional piece of red or white cloth tied to a stick 

 or some challenging allusion in the chorus of one of the troupes 

 concerned. 



It would be a thousand pities if the Borias were ever allowed 

 to die out if only for the sake of the opportunity they offer to bud- 

 ding composers, to say nothing of the fun provided free for masses 

 whose lives are dull enough God wot. 



The following is a typical chorus intimating that the troupe 

 come from Hutton Lane (Jalan Hatin) towards Kedah Road 

 (Kampong Melaka) and that they are playing the story of Laila 

 Majnun this year in place of Panji Sumerang which was last year's 

 performance. 



R. A. Soc, No. 82, 1920. 



