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
