Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrai9101882roya).pdf/242

 peared at dawn.

The Khatib tried in vain to cut the bambu, in which the Princess had told him he would find her, using in turn the pârang, pâtil, and pahat. Then he tried the kâchip on the point of the bambu with success, after which he was able to split it downwards, when the Princess fell out, and he secured her, and she did not disappear again; then she was conducted on horseback by many followers with her husband to Bukit Pěrâja, where they both disappeared; but there they both live invisible to this day; their horses in full trappings are occasionally to be seen in certain favourable seasons. If their aid is invoked with burning of kĕnniau, they will come and "běchâra" and then disappear. The Princess was quite fair in complexion and her hair white and seven fathoms in length.

All the different tribes of aborigines are said to be merely varieties of the original Mĕntra, who also exist in the Mĕnangkâbau country, but, says the Bâtin, perhaps they have turned Malay.

D. F. A. HERVEY.