Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

256 NATURAL RELIGION AND FOLK-LORE part in
demons from breaking through between two women
and attacking the unprotected children.
The demons entered from above into the space
between the men and women, but as soon as the
beating of the bamboos was at an end, and escape
was possible, they went down through the earth in
obedience to the magician's will.
It was alleged that the women wore no designs
on their headbands, but were recognised by the
demons who had previously seen them in their
husbands' company, and protected by the charms
inscribed upon their husbands' headgear.^
The idea that lies at the bottom of the ceremony
is the following :
The painted bamboos of the pupil are to call
together all the demons to see what the magician is
doing. The decorated bamboos of the other men are
intended by means of their patterns to render the
demons powerless for the ensuing day. At the
same time, if Allah {i.e. Tuhan or Peng) intends a
man to be injured, there is no remedy against it.
Each individual man now knows how to cut the
charm-pattern to suit his particular case, but he may
not employ the general charm-pattern for himself
alone, as he would then conjure up all the demons
against himself, without any chance of self-protection.
On the other hand, if a man should (as he properly
might) incise either the tiger or snake-charm for
himself alone, and thereupon sound it, he would
certainly be safe if the tiger and snake-demons heard
the sound, but as certainly not if they did not hear
him. Since, however, the chase was only undertaken
as a rule by fairly large parties, there was usually little
^ Z.f. E. xxvi. 163.