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vi CEREMONIES AND CHARMS 431
you must rub him all
(or her) over with limes in order
to " cast out the mischief." These limes must be of
seven different kinds, and you will require three of
each kind. When you have got them, fumigate them
with incense and repeat the appropriate charm, which
is practically an appeal addressed to the spirit of the
limes to assist in extracting the poisonous principle
from the body of the sick man :
" Peace be with you, O Lelang,
We have been brothers from the former time until now,
I am fain to order you to assist me in extracting everything that
is poisonous
From the body and limbs of So-and-So.
Break not your solemn promise,
Break not your plighted faith,
And use not deceit or wiles," etc.
Of course the luckless spirit is told that if he does
not do exactly as he is bidden he must expect the curse
to follow.
This charm must be repeated overnight, and early
next morning three thicknesses of birah leaves must
be laid down (for the patient to stand upon during the
lustration). The seven sorts of limes are at the same
time to be squeezed into a bowl and divided into three
portions. These portions are to be used three times
during the day, at sunrise, noon, and sundown respectively,
partly for washing off the cosmetics (which are
rubbed all over the body), and partly as a medicinal
draught or potion.
In the morning the cosmetic must be white (bedak
puteh lulut\ at noon it must be red (bedak merak), and
sundown black (bedak hitain). The " trash " of the
limes (after squeezing) is wrapped up in a birak
leaf at evening, and either carried out to the sea (into
which it is dropped), or deposited ashore at a safe