Malay Magic: Being an introduction to the folklore and popular religion of the Malay PeninsulaSkeat, Walter William
Religion
Malay Magic: Being an introduction to the folklore and popular religion of the Malay Peninsula
Skeat, Walter William
Magic -- Malay Peninsula; Malays (Asian people) -- Folklore; Malays (Asian people) -- Social life and customs
Two couples stood facing one another at a few yards' distance, and at
a given signal one of the boys in each couple took his companion up
on to his shoulders. The two who were mounted threw the handkerchief
across to each other, and back again by turns. When the one failed
to catch it, both riders dismounted and offered backs to their late
"mounts," who thus became riders, and threw the handkerchief in their
turn. Each time, however, that a catch was made both parties crossed
over. When three catches were made in unbroken succession (kelerik)
the riders had the privilege of being carried across three times
before recommencing play.
I should add that a coin was tossed up at the outset of the game to
decide who were to start as the riders, and who were to be the ridden.
Main Sesel (or Kachau kueh) bears a strong family resemblance to our
own "Hen and chickens." When I witnessed it, a big boy played the
"Paterfamilias" with a string of children at his back, each of whom
was holding on to the one in front of him. Presently a "Cakeseller"
presented himself, and the following conversation ensued:--
Paterfamilias: Ada kueh? (Have you any cake?)
Cakeseller: Ada. (I have.)
P.F.: Buleh aku b'li? (Can I buy some?)
C.: Buleh. (Yes.)
Here the Cakeseller hands a ball of earth to Paterfamilias, who passes
it down the line of children to the youngest child at the end of the
row. The conversation then recommenced--
Cakeseller: Aku minta' duit. (I want my money.)
P.F.: Duit t'ada, anak kunchi tinggal di jamban. (I have got no
money, I have mislaid the key.) Kalau mahu ambil budak, ambil
yang di-b'lakang. (If you wish to take one of my children, take
the last.)
Here a desperate effort was made by the poor Cakeseller to dodge
past Paterfamilias and get at the boy, whom he eventually succeeded
in carrying off.
Main Tul is a game somewhat resembling our own "Puss in the corner,"
but with only one "home." The "home" consisted of a stake planted
upright, and the first "Puss" (orang tul) was selected by a species of
divination depending upon repetition of the same formula as is used to
select the blind man in Blind Man's Buff (Main China Buta). There was
(as I have said) only one home in this game, from which the players
sallied forth to taunt the orang tul, and which they were obliged to
touch in order to save themselves when closely pursued.
Main Seladang (Wild Bull game) is an excellent game for children with
the shoeless feet of the East. A "wild bull" having been selected
by repetition of the Ping hilang formula, went upon all fours, and
entered into the following conversation between himself and one of the
other players specially selected for the purpose. The latter opened
negotiations with the clearly non-committal, if not very lucid remark,
"Tam tam kul" to which the "Bull" replied, "Buat apa guna bakul"
(What are you going to do with your basket?)
Boy: Mengisi arang. (To hold charcoal.)
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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