The chief medicine-man, whom we will call “A,” came and sat with crossed legs in front of the altar, as the arrangement of the objects may be conveniently called. He hid his face behind a fan (kipas) and murmured incantations, every now and again calling the spirit by a chirruping noise.
He wore a detta as a turban, a white blatchu over the right shoulder, a Javanese sarong, and striped silk seluar (trousers).
After a little time another man and two women came. The man (“B”) brought a salver containing some cloths. When he had deposited this near the other he lifted up some of the cloths and burnt incense (kamanyan) below them.
On his head he had a Javanese detta, a piece of red kasumba, and a piece of white cloth, the ends of which hung down his back; for the rest he was dressed like the other medicine-man, but had in addition a Sea Dayak bead belt (tali pinggang marik). The women were dressed in the Mĕlanau fashion with Brunei sashes. One was a particularly beautiful example of gold brocade (kain benang mas). This woman, whom I will term “C,” had also a kasumba round her head.
During all this time the drums and gongs were beaten by women.
The man “B” and the women “C” and “D” sat down in this order, and solemnly made their incantations with their fans in front of their faces. The man “A” stood up, and while continuing his incantations he slowly and gracefully waved his white cloth and fan, and occasionally put the edge of the latter to his lips and chirruped to the spirit. He then walked round the altar, left hand to centre, with a slow, dancing movement, the body being held upright but the head bowed. The other three sat still and covered their faces with their fans. To avoid repetition, I may here state that during the whole time the incantations were made there was an incessant booming, clanging accompaniment of drums and gongs.
The principal female attendant (“C”) and the other two got up and faced “A,” who was seated now and slowly fanning himself. The latter arose, and all gently swayed backwards and forwards, and very slowly processioned round the altar. The movement consisted of a sedate walk, the heel being slightly lifted two or three times at each shuffling step. After several revolutions all sat down; later they stood up again.
The chief magician (“A”) took a mouthful of water and spat it over the chest of the sick woman, who was sitting close by. He had previously been chewing betel, so that he might be able to make a large red splash on the woman’s bosom. He then patted her on the breast and head. He next took the areca blossom from the spathe and held it over her head, and made passes in front of her with it, ever and again stroking her head with it.
The attendants sat down while the chief woman (“C”) stood by the operator (“A”); both then walked round the altar, the man still carrying the areca blossom, which he solemnly waved about.
The whole process was repeated with the green leaves from the altar by “B.” The others sat down and chirruped frequently.