A Naning Wedding-Speech 



J. L. Humphreys, 

 Straits Settlement* Civil Service. 



I first heard this speech in the year 1908, at a wedding in 

 Waning. It was recited by a Malay, Ungkai Lisut, local headman 

 of the Mungkar tribe at Kelemak, Alor Gajah. The bridegroom 

 was one of his clansmen. After the usual fencing, fireworks, and 

 show of resistance below the house, in which, I remember, some 

 Hailam kulis gave an amusing display of Chinese boxing, Ungkai 

 Lisut, with several of his tribesmen, led the bridegroom up the 

 steps on to the verandah of the bride's house. The headman of her 

 clan was seated at the far end with the party of the bride, and to 

 him Ungkai Lisut addressed this recital, pausing after each period, 

 and raising his hands together in salute with each repetition of the 

 words " Semb'ah, Dato 7 ! " 



The ritual was conducted with considerable solemnity, and was 

 followed with close attention: doubtless portions of it had a semi- 

 religious significance in pre-Muhammadan days. On its conclusion 

 the usual wedding ceremonies were continued. 



I asked L T ngkai Lisut some time afterwards to repeat the 

 speech, and took it down in writing: he had no record of it but 

 his own memory. In the year 1914, meeting him in Singapore, I 

 again asked him to recite it: he did so without hesitation, and 

 with hardly the alteration of a word. 



This set speech is an interesting exposition of the domestic 

 Menangkabau custom still surviving in Xaning. A very complete 

 discussion of the fuller exogamic custom of Xegri Sembilan is 

 given in Bembau, Parr and Mackray, volume 50 of the Journal. 



The homely precepts of the recitation recall more than one 

 passage in the Second Georgic: among the Xaning, as among the 

 Virgilian, peasantry are still found 



. . . .patiens operum exiguoque assueta juvenilis, 

 Sacra deum sanctique patres. 



I am indebted to Mr. W. H. Mackray, of the F. M. S. Civil 

 Service, who has kindly read through this paper, for several valuable 

 suggestions, which I have adopted. 



The following is a short summary of the recital : — 



Our lives are guided by religious law, and by ancient Menang- 

 Jcabau custom. (Lines 1-47.) 



I tell of the customs that govern our marriages and the up- 

 bringing and wedding of our children. (Lines 48-94.) 



Lastly, I tell of the making of this marriage, to fulfil which I 

 am now come. (Lines 95-131.) 



A few notes have been added to elucidate obscure passages. 



E. A. Soc, No. 72, 1916. 



