Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society/Volume 42/Hunting Invocations
Hunting Invocations.
By R. N. BLAND.
In the October "Blackwood" there is an article by George Maxwell on the subject of a Malay deer-hunt in Perak. I think he has given some excellent translations of the "Elmu Pawang" as applied to the rusa or sambur deer, and written a most inter- esting account of the way in which the Pawang sets to work. It may interest him and others to see an invocation I got from a Pawang in the Negri Sembilan (Kuala Pilah) years ago. My "Elmu Pawang" is not nearly so ornate as George Maxwell's, but no doubt every village and district has its own ritual in these matters. There is a family likeness, however, in all of them. The Pawang who is an educated man from the Malay point of view, will produce a much more elaborate "elmu" than the Pa- wang of a jungle village. It is interesting to compare notes in these matters and therefore I send you this "elmu" for the S. B. R. A. S.—but I feel as if I were betraying a secret in doing so. These matters are highly confidential. My Pawang only admitted me to his "craft" under promise of secrecy and in pay- ment of the customary fees in cloth, knife, coconuts, and "wang bharu", and after following the deer on foot for many days through the Muar jungles.
Elmu Pawang Buru Rusa.
(Negri Sembilan.)
Hei Che' Lanang, Che' Redup,
Che' Bendang, Che' Merah,
Mari-lah kita berburu
Dalam kandang bhagian engkau
Luar kandang bhagian aku
Apa main kita jangan di-rosakkan
Aku tahu jahat-nya
Aku tahu baik-nya
Jahat pulang pada engkau
Baik pulang pada aku
Salah sa'ekor srigala Che' Langsat
Che' raia ini ia-lah melengkah bumi
Yang lari Che' Runsing
Kaki yang mengijar Che' Rimbun
Ekor melampat patah kaki
Menyenup patah pinggang
Menyelodok badan kau lampoh
Bukan-nya aku yang berburu
Perpatih yang berburu
Bukan nya aku yang punya anjing
Pa sidi yang punya anjing
Bukan-nya aku yang berkuei
Nenek Batin Telang yang berkuci
Jangan engkau mungkirkan janji
Jikalau ongkau mungkirkan janji
Drahka engkau pada Allah.
Hei Che' Lanang Che' Redup
Che' Bendang Che' Merah
Ambil bhagian engkau
Yang terbawa bhagian aku
Yang tinggal bhagian angkau.
Badi.
Hei Badi aku tahu asal engkau
Jadi deri-pada Chaga
Beranjak engkau deri sini
Pulang engkau ka asal jadi
Kropek nama-nya manchong
Kiamang namanya kiak
Che' Lanang orang gobala
Tergak Dato' nibong salah
Mari-lah kita membalakan anjing
Bunohkan juga anjing aku
Sa'ekor sa hari bunokkan juga
Anjing aku.
Translation.
Ye (forest spirits that guard the red-deer)
Che' Lanang—the Twister
Che' Redup—the Dim One.
Che' Rendang (the open plain)
Che' Merah—the Red One
I summon you to hunt with me
What comes from the enclosed fields is your share
What comes from the outer forest shall be mine
Let nothing spoil our hunting
I know what to avoid
I know what to follow
May all the bad luck be your share
May all the good luck fall to me.
Whether it be Srigala or Che' Langsat
Or the King of the Deer himself
Yea, he who crosses the world at one leap
Or Che' Runsing who flashes hither and thither
May each one that leaps forth fall with broken legs
May each glider be broken across the back
May each one crushing through the bushes have broken bones
It is not I who destroys you
It is the Lord Perpatih who hunts your
The dogs are not my dogs
They are the dogs of Pa' Sidi
It is not I who shouts on the dogs
It is the shout of Nenek Batin Pelang
Fail ye not in your compact
If ye fail in your compact ye are rebellious against Allah.
O Che' Langsat—the Twister
Che' Redup—the Dim One
Che' Bendang—the "open plain"
Che' Merah—the Red One
Take what is yours
That which is carried away is mine
That which remains is yours.
Badi—Invocation.
O Badi I know whence thou comest
Thou comest from Chaga
Get thee from hence
Get thee to the place whence thou comest
Che' Lanang the herdsman
Remember the elder of the magic nibong
Come hither and make atonement for our dogs
Shouldst thou wish to slay my dogs
Slay them, yes, one every day.