4. FISHING CEREMONIES
Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Skeat, Walter William
By virtue of ‘There is no god,’” etc.322
The following was the charm used by the Pawang at the planting of the first pole of a jĕrmal:323—
“Peace be with you, Eldest Wizard, First of Wizards, Allah,
And Musa, the Converser with Allah.
Sĕdang Bima, Sĕdang Buana,
Sĕdang Juara, and King of the Sea,
Come let us all together
Plant the pole of this jĕrmal.”
Even when fishing with rod and line, a sĕrapah (invocation) of some sort, such as the following, was generally used:—
“Ho, God of Mid-currents,
See that you do not agitate my hook!
If my hook is to the left,
Do you go to the right.
If my hook is to the right,
Do you go to the left.
If you approach this hook of mine
You shall be cursed by the Saying of God,” etc.
(Before casting the line, a chew of betel-leaf should be thrown into the water.)
Another very common rhyming charm would frequently be addressed to the fish:—
“Swallow (lit. receive) the gut of my line,
Be it broken sooner than torn from my hands,
If you tear it from my hands
Your eye shall be plucked out.”