380 _ THE AKUAN OR, SPIRIT-FRIENDS. | 
dium by the interpreter. Those of them who are not Moslems 
employ some other polite formula. At each arrival the interpreter 
introduces the guest to the audience—as Dato’ of this mountain 
or that mountain, ete. They are, of course, not visible but to the 
unconscious medium who, through the interpreter, most politely 
motions them each to their reserved seat. When all have arrived 
and seated themselves, one of them asks: “ What is it that you 
all want, friends, that you call us? We shall always be pleased to 
do you any little service that we can.” ‘These words are spoken by 
the medium to the interpreter in a strange language. On their 
being interpreted, the relative sitting closest to the patient speaks 
out, describing the patient’s sickness, the length of the time he or 
she has suffered, the powerlessness of the medicine-men to cope 
with it, and asking for an explanation of the cause, the possibility 
of cure, and the treatment for such a cure. The interpreter com- 
municates this to the medium who, as the embodiment of all the 
spirit-guests for the time being, replies after a few minutes’ real 
- or pretended meditation. The reply will be that the sickness was 
caused by such and such evil influence (kétéguran or badtv), 
malicious persons (dt-buatkan orang) or whatever it may be, at 
such and such place and on such and such occasion: that such and 
such is the treatment for its cure. Or he might say: “ This so- 
and-so’s sickness is incurable. There is no hope. Be resigned.” 
If many of the spirits are present, they all agree in the decision 
given. This done, they all leave; and after some half-an-hour’s 
more exertion, the medium comes back to his senses, extremely 
exhausted. He will immediately quit the house without a word, 
and go home accompanied, it is alleged, by “his” mysterious 
tiger. 
On the other hand, if the akuan is one that permanently as- 
sumes the form of an animal, it is to all appearance sexless. Hven 
if it belongs to any particular sex, the distinction 1s regarded in- 
differently. As for number, never or very seldom more than one 
of such animal-akuan belong to any one master. But that one acts 
towards him more like a faithful attendant than a far-off friend. 
The animal is not known by any special name. Its dwelling place 
depends upon the nature of the animal whose form is adopted by 
the spirit. Mostly the form adopted is that of a tiger, and so it 
lives in the forest over which it is supposed to wander lke all or- 
dinary tigers. Its assistance is not invoked, as it is always ready 
to help when the need arises, provided such emergency occurs, so 
to speak, within its “sphere of influence,” that is to say, where it 
- can make its appearance consistently with its natural form. A 
tiger, for instance, cannot live in the water, but in the jungle or 
in the dark it can render services to the “‘ owner ” in many ways. 
When he loses his way in the forest, the tiger would come and lead 
him out by distinct marks and scratches on the ground. He has 
no cause to fear anything, as the spirit-beast is always close by, 
assuring him of assistance and protection by making familiar 
Jour, Straits Branch 
