Plate 16.—Bomor at work.
Model, showing a medicine-man (bomor or pawang) at work, the patient lying in bed with his child at his side. The “three jars” (buyong tiga) used by the medicine-man are standing in a row at the side of the room. They are a little too large in proportion.
Page 410.
I shall take each of the types in order.
For the water-jar ceremony three jars (buyong) containing water are brought to the sick man’s room and decorated with the fringe or necklace of plaited cocoa-nut leaves, which is called “Centipedes’ Feet” (jari ’lipan). A fourth jar should contain a sort of bouquet of artificial flowers to serve as an attraction to the sick man’s soul (sĕmangat). You will also require a tray filled with the usual accessories of Malay magic ceremonies (incense, three sorts of rice, etc.), besides three wax tapers, one of which you will plant upon the brim of each of the three jars.
When all is ready, drop the incense upon the embers, and as the smoke rises repeat this charm:—
“If you are at one with me, rise towards me, O smoke;
If you are not at one with me, rise athwart me, O smoke,
Either to right or left.”[120]