FOLK-LORE AND POPULAR RELIGION' OF IHE MALAYS. 7 



Again, in reaping, certain instruments are proscribed, and 

 in the inland villages it is regarded as a great crime to use the 

 sickle ( sabit ) for cutting the padi : at the very least the first 

 few ears should be cut with a tiiai, a peculiar small instrument 

 consisting of a semi-circular blade set transversely on a piece 

 of wood or bamboo, which is held between the fingers and 

 which cuts only an ear or two at a time. Also the padi must 

 not be threshed by hitting it against the inside of a box, a prac- 

 tice knowm as banting padi. 



In this, as in one or two other cases, it may be supposed 

 that the Pawang's ordinances preserve the older forms of 

 procedure and are opposed to innovations in agricultural 

 methods. The same is true of \.^^pantan^ rule which prescribes 

 a fixed rate of price at which padi may be sold in the village 

 community to members of the same village. This system of 

 customary prices is probably a very old relic of a time when 

 the idea of asking a neighbour or a member of your own tribe 

 to pay a competition price for an article was regarded as an 

 infringement of communal rights. It applies to a few other 

 articles of local produce"^ besides padi, and I was frequently 

 assured that the neglect of this wholesome rule was the cause 

 of bad harvests. 1 was accordingly sometimes pressed to fine 

 transgressors, which would perhaps have been a somewhat 

 difficult thing to do. The fact, however, that in many places 

 these rules are generally observed is a tribute to the influence 

 of the Pawang who lends his sanction to them. 



In agricultural operations the animistic ideas of the Malays 

 are clearly apparent : thus, before the rice is cut, a sort of 

 ritual is performed which is known 2l?> puji padi^ and which is 

 regarded apparently as a kind of propitiatory service, a sort 

 of apology to the padi for reaping it. The padi is usually 



* In Bukit Seng-geh the articles subject to this custom are priced as follows — 



Padi, 



3 cents a gantang. 



Beras, 



10 cents a gantang. 



Kabong suv^ar, ... 



2^ cents a " buku" of two pieces and 





weighing a kati. 



Coco-uuts, 



I cent each. 



Hen's eggs, 



o\ cent each. 



Duck's eggs, 



0^ cent each. 



