SPELLS AND SOOTHSAYING 107 



Sometimes for the purpose of making a diagnosis the 

 Malay wizard {jpawamj or homor) resorts to divination by 

 means of omens taken fi-om the position of coins thrown 

 into a water jar, and from toasted rice floating upon the 

 water's surface. Another method of " water-gazing " 

 is by looking into a cup containing saUva produced by 

 chewing betel (Skeat's " Malay Magic " : Medical Rites). 

 On other occasions this form of divination is practised 

 by means of omens taken from the smoke of the burning 

 censer. These methods are elaborate in teclmique ; 

 they are fully described by Skeat. Swettenham gives 

 methods of divination for the discovery of thieves 

 (** Malay Sketches "). Skeat and Blagden narrate 

 many examples of divination, exorcism, and spells used 

 by the primitive people of the Malay Peninsula (" Pagan 

 Races Skeat gives the interpretation of several 

 magic squares (" Malay Magic A few ** mystic 

 squares " occur in the old book now under review. 

 One of them consists of sixty-four squares, like a single 

 chess-board, with writing in each square. The bearer 

 of it is protected against spear, kris and -bullet, and all 

 kinds of sickness. If placed at the bow of a boat, it 

 ensures the boat against sinking. If dipped in water, 

 which is then given to a woman to di-ink, it ensures her 

 chastity. This charm must be written when certain 

 stars {bintang akrahy the zodiacal sign of Scorpio) are not 

 visible ; the ink must be made \vith rose-water, saffron, 

 and musk, and when it is being written certain words, 

 lakad ja akomy must be repeated seven times in the 

 morning and seven times in the evening. 



The constellation of the Scorpion is known to be 

 inauspicious. Dr. Parkins, the author of " The English 

 Physician " (1814), mcludes two plants under the sign of 

 Scorpio in liis astrological and pharmaceutical discourse 

 on various herbs not included in Culpepper's " British 



