who working afterwards in the same field, with find their work, I believe, appreciably lightened, and who in revising these notes compiled often under difficulties will be able to correct when necessary and to add to them at their leisure.
Then with the "northern farmer" I shall be able to say I have "stubbed Thornaby waaste."
PADI CEREMONIES.
On the 28th January, 1897, I witnessed the ceremonies attending the reaping of the first ears of padi at Chodoi in the Kwala Langat District of Selangor. I arrived at the house belonging to the Malay owner of the padi field a little past 8 a.m., the hour at which the ceremony was to commence having been fixed at angkat kening. (about 9 a.m.) a few days previously. On my arrival I found the Pawang (an aged Selangor woman) seated in front of the apparatus required for the ceremony. This consisted of three newly-plaited circular baskets diminishing in size from the Pawang's right to her left, (the big basket being supposed to contain seven, the middle-sized five, and the smallest one three, "gemalan" of padi). They were each bound round, just under the rim, with the fruiting form of the creeper called "ribu-ribu," freshly gathered that morning. At the Pawang's extreme left stood the circular brass trays with high sides which are called "Dulang" by the Malays, the contents of which were as follows:—
- A small bowl of parched rice.
- A small bowl of parched„ saffron rice.
- A small bowl of parched„ washed rice.
- A small bowl of parched„ oil of frankincense.
- A small bowl of parched„ oil of Celebes, (Bugis).
- A small bowl of parched„ incense.
- A small bundle of incense (in addition to the bowl).
- One of the hard jungle-nuts called "Buah Kras."
- One of the shells called "Krang."
- An Egg.
- A stone (a small block of quartz).
- A large iron nail.
- to 15.—Three Malay reaping-instruments, of which (a) is the penawei solong (lit, eldest rice-cutter), which is only
