44 MALAY POISONS AND CHABM CURES 



the exorcism of the pelesit is given in romanised Malay 

 in Appendix I,, but the Malay is so corrupt that no 

 English version can be given. It is of a very abusive 

 character. 



Some time last year the Engku* Said Husain of Kota 

 Bhani told me that his small son bad been attacked 

 by a pelSsit. The child was delirious with fever. His 

 father was sure about the pSUsit from the expression on 

 his son's face ; he also heard a noise like the sough of 

 the wind in the child's bedroom, A hoTnor was called 

 in at midnight and the pilesit exorcised. It had come 

 in from next door and was declared to be the famihar 

 of 'Che Lomat, who hved across the way. 'Che Lomat 

 was an elderly woman who earned her hving by weaving 

 silk cloth. She told me afterwards that some unpleasant* 

 ness had occurred at the time between herself and the 

 youngest of the Engku's wives owing to an incident not 

 uncommon in Malay hfe. 



A soothing charm chanted by. the homor in eases of 

 snake bite, the stings of centipedes and scorpions is 

 this : — 



Peace be with you ! 



OM / Potent this charm ! 



Fain would I charm this into the flesh. 



The veins, the sinews, 



Charm this into the bones ! 



Charm given of Allah, given too of Muhammad, 



The Apostle of God 



The medicine given with this charm is " liquid opium 

 with the ashes of a cat's whiskers ! 



The aid of the Hindu man-god Krishna is said to be 

 invoked as an alternative in Kelantan, only to be used 

 for snake bite and the stings of scorpions and centipedes. 

 Krishna is said to be referred to as " Lambu " : — 



Fa Lambu tu ! Lambu yu ! 



Lambu nuk / Lamh^i tu / Ya Lambu f 



