A Naning Wedding-Speech.
J. L. Humphreys,
Straits Settlements Civil Service.
I first heard this speech in the year 1908, at a wedding in Naning. It was recited by a Malay, Ungkai Lisut, local headman of the Mungkar tribe at Kelemak, Alor Gajah. The bridegroom was one of his clansmen. After the usual fencing, fireworks, and show of resistance below the house, in which, I remember, some Hailam kulis gave an amusing display of Chinese boxing, Ungkai Lisut, with several of his tribesmen, led the bridegroom up the steps on to the verandah of the bride's house. The headman of her clan was scated at the far end with the party of the bride, and to him Ungkai Lisut addressed this recital, pausing after each period and raising his hands together in salute with each repetition of the words "Sembah, Dato<nowiki>'<nowiki>!"
The ritual was conducted with considerable solemnity, and was followed with close attention: doubtless portions of it had a semi-religious significance in pre-Muhammadan days. On its conclusion the usual wedding ceremonies were continued.
I asked Ungkai Lisut some time afterwards to repeat the speech, and took it down in writing: he had no record of it but his own memory. In the year 1914, meeting him in Singapore, I again asked him to recite it: he did so without hesitation, and with hardly the alteration of a word.
This set speech is an interesting exposition of the domestic Menangkabau custom still surviving in Naning. A very complete discussion of the fuller exogamic custom of Negri Sembilan is given in Rembau, Parr and Mackray, volume 56 of the Journal.
The homely precepts of the recitation recall more than one passage in the Second Georgie: among the Naning, as among the Virgilian, peasantry are still found
...patiens operum exiguoque assueta juventus,
Sacra đemm sanctique putres.
I am indebted to Mr. W. H. Mackray, of the F. M. S. Civil Service, who has kindly read through this paper, for several valuable suggestions, which I have adopted.
The following is a short summary of the recital :—
Our lives are guided by religious law, and by ancient Menangkabau custom. (Lines 1-47.)
I tell of the customs that govern our marriages and the upbringing and wedding of our children. (Lines 48-94.)
Lastly, I tell of the making of this marriage, to fulfil which I am now come. (Lines 95-131.)
A few notes have been added to elucidate obscure passages.
