Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/415

 Collectanea^ 373

spell-like verse. These verses vary considerably ; the following are examples : —

" Sang Gali, Sang Bertali, akar lada.

Datang sa-ekor Musang, sa-ekor ayam pun tiada."

and

" Chok Pa Lechok, Gali-gali ubi

Di-mana kayu bongkok, Di-situ musang men-jadi."

The boy becomes giddy, tired, and finally, — it may be after a considerable time, — appears to sleep.

The song must have a lulling effect. I have not heard of shaking or swinging being employed elsewhere by hypnotists, but the effect of a strain on the neck in producing an abnormal mental state has been widely made use of; for example, by the Maenads, (who are figured in Bacchic ecstasy with heads flung back), by the dancing Dervishes, by Malay wizards seeking to be possessed,* by the "Pentecostal dancers," and by those Greek monks who formerly attained ecstatic illumination by sitting with their eyes steadfastly fixed upon their abdomens. The chant is considered absolutely necessary, and such formulae are used in most Malay wizardry.

When the subject's feet feel cold, or he is no longer ticklish, the process is complete, and the rest of the band run off, some- times imitating the cries of fowls, creatures beloved of all musangs. The newly-admitted member of that race starts up and pursues, and it goes ill with anyone he catches, for he bites and scratches hke the beast he is imitating. I am told that he not only eats eagerly all the fruits which musatigs are fond of, but also kills and devours fowls. He never uses his fists, and a blow does not stop him. If his prey escapes, as usually happens, he takes to climb- ing trees, in accordance with his acquired character, and is said to show marvellous agility and skill in reaching the topmost branches and jumping from tree to tree. There is nothing in this which goes beyond the ordinary feats of somnambulism, mania, and drunkenness. In all this there is clearly a good deal of danger both to the musang and his companions, but, though the latter do get bitten at times, no damage is done as a rule.


 * W. E. Maxwell, In Malay Forests, p. 20.