Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 13, 1902.djvu/162

148 the animal world, but whose head is formed very much like the handle of a kris; the eyes being situated at either end of the cross-guard, and the upper part of the blade representing the neck, from the extremity of which branch out two spinous leg-like processes, running nearly parallel with is spiral filiform body, widening out at the insertion, and gradually approximating at the extremities; at least such is the form of the Polong which a Malay physician and dealer in the black art will rudely sketch if requested to do so. It is difficult to believe, although we are so assured, that this demon, with whose figure the Malays are so well acquainted, is nevertheless always invisible. It is death by the Malayan code to keep one, but it is nevertheless asserted that several females are in the habit of doing so, as the possession of a Polong imparts exquisite beauty to its owner, even though she be naturally ugly. The men seldom keep one of these spirits unless they have some revenge to gratify, though occasionally they keep them for hire by others. The Polong is kept in a small earthen bottle, whose neck is sufficiently wide to permit the introduction of a finger. As it feeds upon human blood, its keeper cuts his finger once or twice a week, either on Friday or Monday night, and inserts it in the bottle for the Polong to suck. Should this be neglected the demon issues from his confinement and sucks the whole body until it becomes black and blue. Directly anyone is attacked by a Polong, he either screams out, and falls down in a swoon, or becomes death-like and speechless. Sometimes possession is shown by incoherent raving, and in other cases by acts of violence on the by-standers. Occasionally, even death itself ensues. The Polong is under strict management, being obliged to inflict the punishment in that kind and degree which his master directs. The Malays say that this form of possession (like that of werwolfism ) is infectious, at least in some cases, as people who