Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalof555719101911roya).pdf/11

 HIKAYAT SĔRI RAMA.

Professional story-telling has not yet been quite killed in the East, by the gradual diffusion of printed and lithographed books and newspapers. The old legends and romances are still, especially in places remote from European influences, handed down from father to son, and eagerly listened to by old and young at village festivals or domestic celebrations. To the Malays, the skilful raconteur, who can hold his audience en- thralled with the adventures of his hero and heroine, or with elaborate descriptions of the magnificence of the palaces and courts of mythical Rajas, is the pĕnglipur lara, "the soother of cares," by the magic of whose art all woes are temporarily banished.

Sitting in the balai of a Raja or Chief, or in the verandah of a private house, when the sun has gone down and the even- ing meal is over, the story-teller, very likely a man who can neither read nor write, will commence one of the romances of his repertoire, intoning the words in a monotonous chant as if he were reading aloud from a book. He has very likely been placed purposely near a doorway leading to the women's apart- ment, and the laughter and applause of the male audience without is echoed from behind the curtains, where the women of the household sit eagerly listening to the story. The recita- tion is perhaps prolonged far into the night, and then post- poned, to be continued on the succeeding night. There is no hesitation or failure of memory on the part of the bard; he has been at it from his youth up, and has inherited his romances from his father and ancestors, who told them in days gone by