Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

1916.] I. H. N. Evans: Snkai of the L'ln Kampar. 27
these observances practised while still a youth. In choosing
a site tor a new clearing, a kind of divination was practised to
see whether the Earth Spirit would allow the ground to be
used. When a suitable piece of ground had been chosen, the
Sakai went to the site proposed for iJie new clearing and
spells. The} then swepl all rubbish from a
small plot of ground, and enclosed it within a frame made of
four pieces of wood each aboul a f< 01 and a half long. The
pieces of wood were called galang dapor. Incense was burnt
within the square, and, ll much smoke arose from it, this was
that :! padi crop would be plentiful.
Next, little cups made of lebnk leaves containing incense,
water, lebak leaves and rice-flour were placed within the
square. The man who performed the ceremony then covered
the square over with leaves and everybody went home. If
this man dreamed on that night that the place was not good
another site was chosen for the clearing. Dreams about fire
or of a piece of wood wrapped in a mat (i.e. a bod}- ready for
burial) were bad. Providing that the celebrant's dreams were
favourable, the Sakai went the next morning to the clearing
site and uncovered the square of ground which they had
swept. If the ground under the covering of leaves was undisturbed,
the\- looked upon this as a sign that they might
make the proposed clearing, but if they found any adventitious
substances under the leaves, such as rubbish of any kind, or
twigs and scraps of w-ood, another site had to be chosen and
the performance repeated. If some rubbish had merely fallen
on the leaves covering the square, the clearing might be made,
though this was regarded as a sign that somebodv from
another settlement would die in their house. If, however, a
clearing were to be made after rubbish had been found under
the covering leaves, it was thought, that this would result in
the death of a man of the house.
When the young padi has sprung up no bamboos or
rattans must be cut near the clearing until the crop is ripe.
The season for sowing padi is when the petai fruits are
ripe and the durian and prah nearly so.
Another curious Sakai superstition is that the earth must
not be struck with a stick, this action being thought to irritate
the Earth Spirit.
Tabu signs are hung up across the approaches to the
clearing and outside the houses on the first day of padi sowing
to warn the people from other settlements that they may not
enter, but the tabu period is only for one day.
In making a clearing the first step is to cut away the
undergrowth. This work proceeds for three days, and then a
one day's stop is made. When the undergrowth has all been
cleared the felling of the big trees begins, and heie again after
working for three days the Sakai rest for a day.
During the first three days of clearing undergrowth it rs
tabu to touch the chopping knife of a man who is engaged in