Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

354 ^A TURAL RELIGION AND FOLK-LORE part hi
or aid. " Not one in a hundred reaches Jewa-Jewa,"
said an old man. " The only one I ever knew to do
so was a Poyang who died when I was young. His
spirit was seven days in heaven. I have never had
recourse to them in sickness, but always allow diseases
to take their course. If Pirman is determined that a
man shall die, he must die. If Pirman thinks fit to
grant him an extension of his life, he must recover."^
Treattnent of Diseases.
To ascertain whether fever exists, the patient is
directed to take " Chuping"" leaves mixed with lime,
rub them together in the hand, and squeeze the juice
into a cup. If it hardens, the patient is pronounced to
have fever. The most common of the remedies are for
fever the leaves of the " Sedingin,"^ and for fever and
ague the growing shoot (" umut ") of the " Semambu."
The " Akar Butut " is used for jaundice in the case of
young children, and the " Akar Balaksini " for pains
in the loins. '^ After child-birth a decoction of " Puar "
1 y. /. A. vol. i. p. 277. the tooth of a wild bull (" Seladang"
2 Unidentified. —Bos gaurus) is grated with water
^ This is probably Btyophyllum upon a stone and applied to the injured
calycinum, Salisb. (Crasste/acecr). part.
^ According to Vaughan- Stevens, For cuts a fruit called " Langyang "
"on the breaking of an arm or a leg, is used in the same way.
the Benua magicians are in the habit of For diarrhoea, benzoin ("Kemnyan")
killing a ' large black bird with brown is scattered on a fire, and the region of
wings ' (whose name was not given). the stomach fumigated with it.
The patient is fed with some of the For indigestion the fruit of a kind of
boiled flesh; and one of its bones is rattan called "Jernang" or Dragon's
then moistened and grated upon a Blood [Calamus draco) is boiled and
stone, and the liquid applied to the the liquor drunk. Or the tooth of a
injured part." porcupine is grated with water upon a
The gall-bladder of snakes (e.g. of stone and applied to the region of the
the python) is worn round the neck in stomach.
order to heal fever. Also the wood of For abscesses the bark of a tree
certain trees (^.^. the " Pcradang ") or called " Samung " is boiled, and the
orchids (e.g. the Dipodiiim pain- infusion rubbed on the inflamed part
dosuni) is boiled and the fluid drunk. by means of a piece of bark in place of
When a thorn has entered the flesh, a brush.