Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

XVII. MALAY NOTES.
By Ivor H. N. Evans, b.a.
The following disconnected notes on some Malay beliefs
and customs, collected in the Malay Peninsula at various times
during the last four years, may possibly be: of interest, since I
do not remember having seen many of them recorded before.
In each case I append the name of the district from which my
informant came.
i Houses
should not be built on promontories, eithei
those which jut out into the rivers or into padi
fields, as such places are frequented by spirits.
(From a man of Kampong Linggi, Negri
Sembilan).
(ii) If you hear a noise at night in the jungle, it is
forbidden to call out and ask your companions
what is making it. (From a man 'if Kampong
Linggi. Negri Sembilan).
i
i iii A
small species of house-cricket, which is known to
the Malays as Semangat rumah, is said to indicate
the good or evil fortune oi the owner of a house.
If the cricket is lir>t heard low down in the wall
but gradually makes its way up higher, it is
considered to imply that the house-holder will
become rich. If. however, the sound of the
cricket is first heard high up, and then lower
down, monetary losses will be incurred. (From
a man of Kampong Linggi. Negri Sembilan).
(iv) Nests, either of the black ant or of the termiti an
sometimes thought to be the dwelling places of
i
spirits. (Awang, a Malay smith of Lenggong in
Upper Perak asked me one day to desist from
poking an ant-hill, winch si 1 lose to his forge,
with my walking -tick. On my asking the reason
lie replied that there was a spirit in it. Questioned
as to his grounds for thinking so, he said
that, if there were not, he did not see h\\ such
a tall mound could have arisen).
i
(v) It is unlucky to step over a fishing-rod which has
been left King on the bank of a river with the
line in the water. Mothers scold their children
if they do this when a family party is oul fi hing,
.1 - he v think that no lish will be caught. (From
a native of Ijok, Selama District of Perak).