194 



A NATUnAimT'S WANDEBISGS 



fixed in small saucers held in the hands. The seriousuess, 

 howeyer, of the performaoce was enlivened by the introduction 

 of a comical element. Closely iniituting in an exaggenited 

 manner all the motions of the dancer, but affecting to keep 

 in Lis rear and ont of sight, waa another dancer simnlatiiig the 

 fool, who was quite ignored as if entirely un perceived by the 

 principal performer, but at whoae remarks, geaturea, and 

 grimaces, all the people laughed heartily. Here we had the 

 simple elementa of the theatrical performance — an embryo 

 play with two performers. 



When one asks a Pussuiimh niau whence his forefathers 

 came in the Ttmpo-dulu^ in the days of yore, the reply is 

 often either from Dewa, or from the snn, or from Alexander 

 the Great (Sckander Alam) ; but to most of them the matter 

 is shrouded in mystery. Hearinfr, however, of a chief of 

 a distant Tillage specially learned in these matters, I sent 

 for him to come to visit me* He was the son of a very hi^^h 

 chief in their independent days, and as such, the history of 

 the Passumah Lands ha*! been instiJled into hini from a Ixiv, 

 as part of the education that belong-ed to his rank. I found 

 him wonderfully versed in all the old ways and ciistoms of 

 the Fassnmah people, and my only regret is that I had not 

 then the knowle<lge on which to found many f|nestions which 

 I should now like to know replies to. I wrote down from his 

 lips many of their strange ceremonial formulas, which are 

 dilficult to find nowadays save inscribed on some old btimboo 

 or lontar-leaf, which may have happily survived the ravages of 

 , the boring beetle and the frequent vUlage fires. Not the 

 least curious was his account of the creation : How diiTerent 

 sorts of birds, with curious but not meaningless names, jiro- 

 duced eggs from which in the fulness of time escaped the 

 solid earth and the sky, the moon, the stars and the sun ; then 

 the grass plains and the forests, the sandy shore and the coral ; 

 how tlie sky wept and there came the rains and the deep sea ; 

 lio^v then the Pewas were, and the hierarchy of good gods and 

 the company of evil spirits ; how the Dewas reproduced and 

 marriage was J Adam mivrried with Uwo (Eve?), the earth 

 married mth the sky, and the mist with the clouds and Allah 

 gave conception to all things. 



The rassumali people are a tall strong race, with well and 



