JELE1SU CUSTOMARY SONGS AND SAYINGS. 37 



The tribal headmen by common consent can elect or 



dismiss a chief. 

 The chiefs by common consent and with the support of 



the tribal headmen can elect or dismiss the king. 



What is transplanted withers, what is uprooted dies : 

 Is a saying of onr hereditary custom. 



When custom does not obstruct. 

 Xor religion prevent. 

 One can marry and give in marriage. 

 When a man marries into any tribe. 

 It is clear, says custom, 



'He becomes a drawer of water and hewer of wood. 

 When a man marries and goes to his wife's family. 

 He will be a friend in council, if clever; 

 If foolish, he will be ordered about. 

 A tall man, he will be as a sheltering buttress; 

 Prosperous he will be as a well-laden branch that gives 



shade 

 The married man must go, when he is bid 

 And halt, when he is forbid. 

 When we receive a man as a bridegroom. 

 If he is strong, he shall be onr champion ; 

 If a fool, he will be ordered about 

 To invite guests distant and collect guests near; 

 Clever and we'll invite his counsel; 

 Learned and we'll ask his prayers; 

 Rich and we'll use his gold; 

 If lame, he shall scare chicken, 

 If blind, he shall pound the mortar, 

 If deaf, he shall fire our salutes, 

 If you enter a byre, low; 

 If you enter a goat's pen, bleat; 

 Follow the .customs of your wife's family. 

 When you tread the soil of a country and live beneath 



its sky, 

 Follow the customs of that country. 

 A bridegroom among his bride's relations 

 Is like a cucumber among durian fruit; 

 If he rolls against them, he is hurt, 

 And he is hurt, if they roll against him. 



3 = menghambat. 



* "If he is clever, I will try to cajole him" (Rembau, p. 

 136 XLVII). "Rembau" accepted this translation from Mr. 

 Hale, who had excuse for rendering teman "I," as he had 

 been a Perak officer. Teman is a Perak and not a N. S. word 

 for "I," and berunding does not mean "cajole.'' 



s Tiuggi banir and rimbun dahan do not necessarily imply 

 one and the same person ("Rembau,'' p. 117 NLVIT) : they 

 contrast the strong man and the rich man. 



R. A. Soc, No. 78. 



