Malay Magic Being an introduction to the folklore and...

1Kapas, i.e. Kapas hutan or Kapas hantu, Hibiscus abelmoschus, L. (Malvaceæ). ↑

2Lerik, probably Phrynium parviflorum, Roxb. (Scitamineæ) or Phrynium Griffithii, Bak. ↑

3Rĕsam, Gleichenia linearis (Filiceæ), a common fern. ↑

4Lĕnjuang merah, the common red Dracæna, Cordyline terminalis, var. ferrea (Liliaceæ). ↑

5 Kedah is the name of the old Spectre Huntsman, and Kadim (or Gadeh = grandmother) that of his wife. ↑

6 Si Adunada and Si Aduan were explained as the names of his two children, but the names look as if they had been confused in some way. ↑

7Tarantan, v.l. terantang, was explained as meaning senjata kabesaran (royal weapons or insignia) of the Hantu Rama. ↑

8 To these names may be added Si Lansat, Si Kumbang, and Si Desa, a lame old dog which the Spectre Huntsman is said to carry at his side in a wallet, until he comes up with his quarry, but whose bite is then the worst of them all.—Cp. Note to 1. 6 of sec. xxx. ↑

9 Si Tompang is said to be the jackal (srigala), the brother of Si Sukum. ↑

10Sangkil = sangka. ↑

11Kinchah = benchah. ↑

12Kunta = terkena (?). ↑

13Juru-juru, sc. mulut, the corners of the mouth. Gagak: lit. a crow, but here said to mean the goat-sucker or nightjar, the steed of the Spectre Huntsman. ↑

14Tĕrtuntong, turned upside down, the phrase signifying the vomiting which accompanies the sickness caused by the Spectre Huntsman. ↑

15Antara mani, explained as meaning between noon and the hour of prayer, called dlohor (early in the afternoon), that being the time of day when the Spectre Huntsman most commonly strikes people with sickness. ↑

16 Si Hantu Pemburu, here definitely explained to me as Batara Guru (Shiva). ↑

17 Si Lansat, also called Si Sukum, a lame old hound which Si Kĕdah carries on his back (anjing bapa tepok di-dokong uleh-nya). ↑

18 Dang Mesa(h), also called Si Pintal, always accompanies Si Lansat. ↑

19 Cp. this line with l. 18 of Maxwell’s version, “Aku tahu asal angkau mula mĕnjadi, orang Katapang.” “Orang petapa’an” and “orang Katapang” are the two readings, and the ease with which the one might pass into the other, possibly through a medial form “orang katapa’an,” will be readily admitted by students of Malay, especially when the general family resemblance of this version to other versions of the same charm is taken into consideration. ↑

20 G. Ledang is, of course, the well-known Mount of Penance of this part of the Peninsula, the so-called Mount Ophir of Malacca territory. ↑

21Anak Nabi Yusuf looks like an interpolation, but fresh versions will no doubt explain it. ↑

22Chendrawasi, possibly due to confusion with the berek-berek of the commoner versions, but this point also requires further investigation. Mr. Clifford has recorded a similar confusion (the berek-berek being supposed, he says, to fly feet upwards like the chendrawasi). See note on chandrawasih in text, p. 111, supra. ↑

23i.q. antara. ↑

24Gĕndala, elsewhere mĕnala (v. infr.): (a) I can find nothing nearer to it in the dictionaries than gĕndala (with a cross-reference to kendala) in Klinkert, who explains it as meaning an obstacle or hindrance. If this is right it may perhaps be translated “Hold-fast,” as a euphemism for “snares”; (b) on the other hand, if, as seems most likely, mĕnala is the correct form, it may simply stand for mendala (= bandala, a bundle), and so mean “enter my sack”; (c) or it may even conceivably mean “enter my circle” (referring to the circular hut), from a Sanskrit word meaning circle or disc (v. Kl. s.v.). This, however, seems far-fetched, and perhaps (b) is the most natural explanation. ↑

25Raja Sakti, “Magic Prince,” a euphemism for the hut (bumbun); possibly in allusion to the wizard concealed inside it. ↑

26Raja Gila, “Prince Distraction,” a euphemism for the decoy-tube (buluh dekut). ↑

27Do’ Ding is evidently a name given in allusion to some kind of pigeon, but the only pigeon name which comes at all near it is puding. It is quite possible that this may be right, although one of my informants told me that it was meant to refer to a kind of pigeon called rangob, which is not given in Klinkert’s dictionary. ↑

28Madukara was explained to me by a Malay as referring to a kind of pigeon generally called punei jambu. Klinkert only gives madoe-kara as meaning “silken stuff inwoven with gold or embroidered with a special pattern,” etc. ↑

29Lapek, v.l. sumpit (a rice bag). ↑

30Menturun, the Selangor name of the bear-cat (Arctictis binturong). ↑

31Dokoh is a crescent-shaped breast-ornament rather than a necklace in the ordinary sense. Still it is suspended round the neck of the wearer, and necklace is perhaps the best translation. I may remark that such a “necklace” (dokoh) is often worn by Malay brides and bridegrooms, and may even be seen decorating the neck of an animal, such as the buffalo, when it is dressed up and sent as a present to some great man. ↑

32Tawar means to neutralise (the power or effect of) anything. Hence it is applied even to the neutralising of the power of diseases and of evil spirits, as well as of noxious potions and influences. ↑

33Kabaleian, v.l. ka-ampeian which would refer to the railings in front of the hut. ↑

34Kalangkiri appears to be corrupt. Quære kanan kiri? The commoner version of these lines has “iring-iring.” ↑

35Ampeian gading; this, of course, refers to the railing around the “Palace-yard.” ↑

36 Var. lec. batang. ↑

37Mengkudu, a Malay forest-tree, Morinda tinctoria. ↑