"First arrange four poles upon the ground, so as to form a rectangular frame (galang dapor), in the middle of the clearing. Then plant in succession at the four corners-- "1. A young banana-tree. 2. A plant of lemon grass (serai). 3. A stem of sugar-cane (of the kind called lanjong). 4. A plant of saffron (kunyit). Perform the operation carefully, so that they are all likely to live. "In the centre of the ground enclosed by the frame deposit a cocoa-nut shell full of water. "Early next morning go out and observe the omens. If the frame has moved aside (berkuak) ever so little, or if the water has been spilt, it is a bad omen. But if not, and if the water in the cocoa-nut shell has not been spilt, or if a black ant (semut) or a white ant (anei-anei) is found in the water, it is a good sign. "When good omens have been obtained, proceed by planting rice-seed in seven holes with a dibble of satambun wood, repeating the following charm:-- "In the name of God, etc., Peace be with you, Prophet 'Tap, Here I lodge with you, my child, S'ri Gading, Gemala Gading, [414] But within from six months to seven I will come and receive it back, Cluck, cluck, soul! cluck, cluck, soul! cluck, cluck, soul!" The Planting out of the Young Rice The following account (by Mr. C. O. Blagden) of the ceremony of planting out the young rice (from the rice-nursery) appeared in the Journal of the Straits Asiatic Society in 1896:-- "In agricultural operations the animistic ideas of the Malays are clearly apparent: thus, before the rice is cut a sort of ritual is performed which is known as puji padi, and which is regarded, apparently, as a kind of propitiatory service, a sort of apology to the padi (rice) for reaping it. The padi is usually sprinkled with tepong tawar (flour mixed with water) before the reaping is commenced, and the first lot cut is set apart for a ceremonial feast. "At planting there are also ceremonies: as a rule the beginning of the planting season is ushered in by a visit of the whole body of villagers to the most highly revered kramat in the neighbourhood, where the usual offerings are made and prayers are said. Sometimes, however, there is a special service known as bapua, [415] consisting of a sort of mock combat, in which the evil spirits are believed to be expelled from the rice-fields by the villagers: this is not done every year, but once in three or four years.