CULTIVATION OF RICE IX MALACCA 301 



in the third it becomes even all over. After three months and a 

 half its growth is stayed and in the fourth month it is styled 

 hunting kecML 



At that stage the stalk has only five joints, and from that 

 period it must be fumigated daily till the grain appears. 



About the time when the stalk has six joints, it is called 

 hunting hesar ; in iovty d.2kY^ more the grain is visible here and 

 there, and twenty days later it spreads everywhere. At this 

 time all the water in the field must be drawn off so that the 

 grain may ripen quickly. After five or six days it ripens in 

 patches and a few days later the rice is altogether ripe. 



P^rom the time of transplanting to the time when it is ripe 

 is reckoned six months, not counting the days spent in plough- 

 ing and in growing it in the nursery, which may be a month or 

 two, or even (if there are many plots) as much as three months 

 to the end of the ploughing. 



Of Reaping and Taking the Soul of the Rice. 



9. — When one wishes to begin reaping the grain one must 

 first have the Pawang's permission, and burn benzoin supplied 

 by him in the field. 



The following implements must also be got ready, viz. 



(1) A small basket to hold the rice cut first known as 

 the "Soul of the Rice." 



(2) k jari lipan to put round the small basket : 



( 3) A string of terap bark to tie up the rice that is cut first. 



(4) A small stem of bamboo, of the variety known as 

 hvloh kamp, with a flag attached, which is to be planted in 

 the small basket as a sign of the " soul of the rice " that has 

 been cut first; 



(5) A small white cloth to wrap up the " soul of the rice "; 



(6) An anchal- to hold the brasier ; 



(7) A brasier, in which to burn the incense provided by 

 the Pawang; 



(8) A nail and a kind of nut, known as huah keras, to be 

 put into the anchak together with the brasier. 



When the rice is ripe all over, one must first take the 

 " Soul" out of all the plots of one's field. You choose the spot 



