8 4 
FASCICULI MALATENSES 
The most elaborate prohibitions, however, are those placed on conversa- 
tion. To begin with, topics regarded as unlucky must be avoided. For 
example, when collecting sea snakes from the boats in Patani Roads, I chanced 
on one occasion to ask whether these snakes were deadly. No direct answer 
was given, but one of the fishermen, laying a hand on either cheek, reclined 
his head on one shoulder, saying, ‘ If a man is bitten, it will be in this way 
with him.’ For some reason, it is considered most unlucky to talk, even 
indirectly, of a Buddhist monk, though there is no prohibition against speaking 
in direct language of a Mahommedan imam or kali. If any other conver- 
sational prohibition is infringed, it is sufficient for the transgressor to throw a 
little of the dirty water that collects in the bottom of the boat over his back, 
with the words, ‘ Lepas geros ! ’ (May the ill luck be dismissed !) ; but if a 
man mentions a monk, his companions will fall on him and beat him. No 
beast or reptile may be named at sea, and sea spirits must not be mentioned 
as such ; while peculiar terms are used instead of several common verbs and 
substantives. Sea spirits, monks (if it is absolutely necessary to mention 
them), beasts, and reptiles, are all called chehweh ; but fish and birds — the 
vulture being an exception — are spoken of in ordinary Malay, unless the 
name of a mammal forms part of their popular appellation. The domestic 
fowl and the domestic duck are also exceptions to this rule, but they are 
hardly regarded as birds by the Malays, who consider the pigeon ( burong 
merpati ) as the only domestic bird worthy of the name. The following 
vocabulary, though probably far from complete, is sufficiently full to illustrate 
the character of this ‘ roundabout ’ ibalik) or ‘ prohibition ’ language 
English 
Malay 
Patani Sea Language 
Buffalo 
Krebau ( kerbau ) 
Chehweh mu- ah 
Corpse, or dead man 
Orang mati 
Chinerang batting (trunk of the 
Chinerang ?) 
Crocodile 
Buaya 
Chehweh gigi jaram (separated, 
lit. ‘ rare,’ teeth) 
Duck (domestic) 
Itek 
T Spang 
Dog 
Anjing 
Chehweh king 
Elephant 
Gajah 
Chehweh utu (elephantiasis) 
Foot (human) 
Kaki 
Chehweh kura (tortoise) 
Fowl (domestic) 
Ayam 
Bib aw 
Gecko (house) 
Chichak 
Chehweh chak 
Go fast, to make to 
Kasi dras 
Mara-mara 
Horse 
Kuda 
Chehweh dras (fast) 
Monkey ( Macacus cynomolgus, 
or Semnopithecus obscurus) 
Kra, or IS tong 
Chehweh ekor panjang (long tail) 
Monkey {Macacus nemestrinus) Brok 
Chehweh kriah 
Monitor Lizard ( Varanus ) 
Biazvak or behwak 
Chehweh pedan 
