Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

372 NATURAL RELIGION AND FOLK-LORE iart ui
bow, the fire-ball being projected into the air by its
momentum.
To effect this " release " the first finger is passed
above the string and under the arrow, ^ the thumb
being straightened, and the arrow grasped between
the thumb and finger.
Traditions of the Orang Akik.
0. Laut, Akik.— Dato' Klambu,^ a man of some
power in former days, employed a number of Jakun
in the building of an Astana or palace. He had an
only daughter, a young and beautiful damsel, who,
once upon a time observing the primitive costume of
one of her father's workmen, was seized with an un-
controllable fit of merriment. Thereupon the irri-
tated Jakun commenced the incantation " Chinduai,"
and pursued their way to the forest, followed by the
spellbound princess. Dato' Klambu despatched mes-
1 Professor Morse adds, "This is a 'Kubur,' or tomb, of Dato' Klambu.
most awkward and inefficient release, This was a Mohammedan saint of
and as the description of this and the considerable odour, who crossed over
previous release were given me by an from Achin to the Malay Peninsula,
old man, it is possible that they may and who, during his lifetime,
have been incorrectly described.'" selected this spot for the inhumation
[The fact that these releases were of his remains. It is situated on
described by an old man some years the summit of a steep mound near the
ago is, however, rather in favour of bank of the river, and having a small
their being correctly (not incorrectly) stream winding round its foot. The
described. It is the younger (town- structure has nothing peculiar in it,
bred) generation in the Peninsula that being built after the usual fashion of
is the less reliable. Is it not possible, the Malayan Mussulmans ; it is about
too, that the weakness and inefticiency of twenty yards long by two broad, and
the release may have been intentional, is visited liy most Mussulmans passing
as a strong release could hardly up the river, wlio repeat a prayer and
be required by the circumstances ?
]
- Internal. Archiv f. Ethn. vol. \\.
offer an oblation for
Mavhum. There is
the peace of the
neither date nor
p. 278. inscription on it, with the exception of
•^ Lit. Mosquito-net Chief. "About a few sentences of the Koran, and the
two and a half miles up the Linggi, names of some of the devotees, which
after passing the mouth of Sungei have been rudely scrawled on it in
B^sar, the voyager arrives at the charcoal."—Begbie, pp. 400, 401.