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356 ADOLESCENCE CHAP.
of precious metals (gold, silver, and amalgam), a
couple of limes, and two small files
(to which a small
1
tooth-saw and two small whetstones should be added).
The ceremony now commences : the tooth -filer
(Pawang gigi)
first scatters the three sorts of rice and
sprinkles the tepong tawar upon his instruments,
etc., repeating the proper charm 2 at the same time ;
the patient meanwhile, and throughout the operation,
reclining upon his back on the floor with his head
resting on a pillow. Next the Pawang, sitting
beside the patient, "touches" the patient's teeth, first
with each of the three rings of precious metal and
then with the egg, throwing each of these objects
away as he does so, and repeating each time a charm
(Hu, kata Allah, d. s.
&.), which is given
Appendix. Next he props open (di -
in the
sengkang) the
patient's mouth by means of a dried areca-nut,
and repeats another charm (Hei, Bismi) in order to
destroy the " venom " of the steel, laying
the file
upon the teeth, 3 and drawing it thrice across
them at the end of the charm. He then cuts
off (di-k'rat) the crowns of the teeth (with one
evil influences proceeding from the
teeth enter. Hence it is regarded after
(badi) issues from the teeth. This
dulang-dulang is valued at a the ceremony
quarter
as sial (unlucky), and of a cannot be eaten indeed it is considered
dollar, and is taken as part pay-
ment of the tooth-filer's services, or it
"bad" (t?mtflang). may be retained by the householder
1 Besides the tray containing the when the full fee of fifty cents is paid,
articles described, there stood at one This dulang - dulang is thought,
side of the room what is called a moreover, to dispel evil influences
dulang-dulang. This consists of a (membuang sial), the hank of yarn
tray full of unhusked rice surmounted by being used by the Pawang to wipe his
a tray full of husked rice and a roughlyhusked
cocoa-nut (niyor gubalan) which
rests upon the latter. The pc
of the cocoa-nut referred to is
eyes should any harm to them accrue
from evil influences residing in the
by a hank of "Java" threac
Jaiva), which is said to avert
the tooth - inted top
Sr circled
teeth. Such evil influences (badi),
however, can only accrue when people
nang are having their teeth filed for the first
filer's eyes whei
ry to time as
(orang bttngaran).
2 Vide App. cli.
sometimes happens, the evil influence 3 Vide cliii.
App.