l\HAlim\G THE MALAYAN PENINSULA. <)f> 



qualitv to he despised, and as Leiiitf ia a 

 rank only a litlle hi{{!ier than aiiimais; but 

 mi th(! other hand, the Malays are super- 

 stitious in the extreme. For Malays » every 

 thing they do not understand is a mystery; 

 every thing not common must be endow- 

 ed with extraordinary virtue ; and conse- 

 quently, for a Malay, a Jakun is a superna- 

 tural being, endowed with a supernatural 

 power, and with an unlimited knowledge 

 ia the secrets of nature; he must be skilled 

 in divination, sorcery and fascination, and 

 able to do either evil or good according to 

 his pleasure; his blessing will be followed 

 by the most fortunate success, and bis curse 

 by the most dreadful consequences. When 

 he hates some person, he turns himself 

 towards the house, strikes two sticks one 

 upon the other, and whatever may be the 

 distance, his enemy will fall sick, and even 

 die, if he perseveres in that exercise for a 

 few days. Besides to a Malay the Jakuii is 



