MALAY MAGIC.

Hokitika Guardian, 2 April 1924, Page 1

MALAY MAGIC.

(By Ooi Choi Jlooi.) PENANG. Fob. 5. Among the Malays the black art is largely practised; indeed, it is an accomplishment of which they are very proud. So highly do the natives reverence a necromancer, cr Immor, that many are willing to make .".real sacrifices and to undergo great suitering in order to acquire proficiency. Self-abnegation is required of all those who seek to praeliso tho art; some live the life of a recluse, others leave their houses only at night. But though the uninitiated i my cub shnalders with a humor without knowing i-. the trained eye can easily seek lnm out. The range of the homers practice is wide, for ho is considered to have power to do anything, from curing a fever to umking a man mad: but it is as a doctor that his services are generally enlisted. Rerhap. a hoy fall- in* > a hog v.dule playing itl the fields, and. alter lie ha:been rescued, shows yrntetcni:; et Ic'er. The Ivomor is hastily sent for. After diagnosing the case, lie callfor ;t caudle, i plate of betel-leaf, betel nut, and lime. He lights the candle, after fixing it. firmly to the plate, and gazes at it with moving lips. In a few minutes he I urns - to the family and stays that the hoy x spit'd lias (led Calling for a pail <>f water, lie chants over it. and then says that L the hoy is bathed with it he will recover. Having then prepared a talisman for the hoy to wear, he leaves the house. It may happen, perhaps; that one ol the children cries at night:. Although tis is probably due to indigestion, the mother suspects some evil spirit. The bonior's services are again enlisted, and he confirms her opinion.

Calling for betel-leaf and ginger, he chews, them and blows some of the mixture over the child’s body. Then, still chewing, lie retreats to the door, where he ejects the remainder of the mixtuie and quickly closes the door. This has blown the spirit away ; it then only remains to guard the child with some talisman. To clear a haunted house the homer holds a seance. Chanting before a candle, he slowly loses consciousness, and then, while in a trance and roaring like a lion, he goes chasing round the house until lie falls in a faint at the doer. This shows that the house has been cleared. From such seances cats and dog? arc generally excluded—in case tho bonier should cat them while he is in a trance. Were he to do so I’m would become a tiger or some other wild beast!