Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

SA VAGE MALA YS OF MALACCA 365
head-band with a long fringe, which went completely
round the head and partially hid the face ; (2) two
tassels similarly constructed, which were attached to
the head-band; (3) a sort of bandolier made of the
same leaves ; and (4) a " serdang "-leaf belt. The full
dress was not ready on our arrival, but it was worn the
next morning at an additional impromptu performance
which was got up for our benefit before we left on our
journey home.
AgticulUire
Mantra.—The Mantra were not so advanced in
cultivation as the Karens of the Tenasserim coast.
These last cultivated cotton and made their own cloth,
which was not the case with the Mantra. The
Karens also had vegetables, which were unknown to
the Mantra. The latter contented themselves with
clearing a small piece of ground in March, and in |ul\-
set fire to the (felled) trees, which by that time were
sufficiently dry, and at the beginning of September
planted their padi and yams (" k'ladi "), etc. Hut
these clearings were usually so small that their
harvest of rice was only enough to last them for a
couple of months, the yam being then their only food
for the remainder of the year.^
Logan relates that just as the Benua-Jakun on commencing
a new clearing made offerings to the earth-
genie (" Jin Bumi "), so too the Mantra, when he had
resolved to abandon his old plantation, began first of
all by searching for a good locality. When he had
found one, it remained for him to discover whether the
supernatural powers were favourable to his occupation
of it. This he did by attending to his first dream
after making the selection. Should he dream of being
> Barbe in/. /. A. vol. v. pp. 487, 488.
.