MOUNT OPHIR LEGENDS. 25 
Tt will be noted that the many tigers formerly infesting the 
mountain, are now reduced to one. No doubt when a good road up 
has been constructed, and Mount Ophir is a favorite Sanitarium 
for the sick and tired inhabitants of Negri Sembilan and Malacca 
districts, the Sorceress and all the demons will betake themselves 
elsewhere. 
II. In reference to the “Saletes’’ (orang-laut), mentioned 
in the appendix, I have occasionally seen their present day descen- 
dants in the art, spearing their fish in deep water just as it was done 
of old. The javelin, attached by thin twine to the wrist, is thrown 
with sure and powerful aim by the fisherman, standing not in a boat, 
but on some miniature pier or © water-machan”’ of bamboo, built 
into the sea. 
Ill. In connection with Goddesses, it may be of interest to 
report that one day in a distant Kampong, I found the Malays busy 
propitiating the celebrated Hindu Goddess of Smallpox, Sztla. 
I was familiar with her chief shrine, to be found near Gurgaon, 
Punjab, which is yearly visited by crowds of pilgrims from all 
over Northern and Central India. 
In this case, the familiar ceremonies were being performed by 
a Hindu fakir (holy man) in orange garments, bearing on his forehead 
the three-fold upright marks of Civa the Destroyer, assisted by two 
followers chanting appropriate mantras to a small mud image of the 
“Slaying One.” With simple faith, the people paid heavily for this 
attempt to avert the epidemic. 
One was reminded of the saying (Rg Veda) “ They speak of 
Mitra, Varuna, Agni;—that which Is and is One, the poets call 
in various ways.’ 
R. A. Soc., No.-62, 1912. 
