Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

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igiS-] I- H. N. Evans: Sakai of the Ulu Stingkai. 89
the mouth of the cave, and a snake came out of the hole,
smelt the Kijar, and then went back again. After this dollars
and beads appeared from out of the cave. These they
gathered up, and then went home.
I was told that one man named Bek Jawil, who was still
alive, had been seized by the "Orang Mensud" about three
years ago, but had managed to make his escape.
Legends of the Eclipse of the Moon.
I was fortunate enough to obtain two legends which
differ considerably in details, but which both profess to
account for the lunar eclipse: they were told to me by Yok
Pataling, and are as follows:
Legend L
When the moon is quenched it falls to the earth.
Presently a Halak (magician),—always the same man,—comes
to the place where the moon has fallen to the earth and asks;
"What are you doing there?" The Moon replies: "I have
fallen down. I came down to get food for my children the
stars. If you don't help me to get back again to the sky all
you men upon the earth will die. " "Wait," says the Ha/a^,
and, as it is night, he goes to sleep. While he is asleep his,
familiar spirit (Anak Yang) comes to him and says, "Help the
moon to get back or all men will die." "How can I help the
moon to get back," says the Halak; "I cannot do it." "Get
ready a bnmbnn" (a round hut made of large leaves), says the
Anak Yang. So the Halak calls together his people and they
prepare the biimhun and make music with bamboo stampers
(berchetog: Malay, berchentong) andTgo through magical rites
(berjualak) there for seven days and seven nights, calling on
the Anak Yang to help them to get the moon back to the sky.
At the end of this time the Anak Yang puts the moon back
again.
Legend IL
The sun is angry with the moon because of an old quarrel *
Formerly both the sun and the moon had many children, but
the moon said to the sun, " Men cannot stand the heat of
your children. If you will eat your children, I will eat mine."
So the sun ate his children, but the moon hid hers (the stars)
and afterwards producing them refused to carry out her part
of the bargain. So that is why the sun is angry with the
moon and fights her whenever they meet.
When an eclipse occurs I was told that the Senoi call out
O Rahu* perjuk gechek jik !
Jik mong kulit dunia !
*c. f. Ulu Bertang Sakais' beliefs. Skeat's Pagan Races Vol. II, p. 235,
According to Thompson (Lotus Land p. 130) Pra Rahoo is the Siamese deity
who tries to swallow the moon and sun, thus causing solar or lunar eclipses.
See also Wilkinson's Malay Dictionary "rahu."