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dost thou seek for, what dost thou desire?"—"Fishes' heads, murōng leaves, dried flesh, ducks' eggs[1]."
The answers given by the burōng to the leubè who comes to withstand her with his incantations (tangkay) are regarded as of greater consequence. It is thought a very good sign when the patient grows quiet after the exorciser has said emphatically to the burōng "get thee gone to thy home" (jaʾ wòë). Should this be of no avail, the expert then employs sundry phrases to drive the burōng out of the inner room, through the passage, down the steps and out on to the gampōng-path (jurōng); this is called bringing down the burōng[2] (peutrōn burōng). But woe to the victim if in reply to all his admonitions the spirit replies through the lips of the delirious patient: "I will not go down unless I bring (the sick one) along with me" (meung hana kupeutrōn, han kutrōn). Then all hope is lost[3].
The chawat.One of the duties of the midwife is to prepare, on the first or second day after the birth, what is known as the chawat. This word generally denotes a fold of cloth twisted round the middle and between the legs so as to convey the impression of a short pair of trousers. In the sick-chamber, however, the chawat denotes a long bag in which are placed the indispensable "44 herbs"[4], pounded fine and mixed with various simples. This is placed in situ and fastened with a band at back and front to the ordinary girdle[5]. This chawat is renewed once or twice during convalescence, and on each occasion the nurse receives a fee of about a dollar.
The placenta, or "younger brother" (adòë) of the infant, is mixed with some salt and ashes from the kitchen, and folded up in a piece of cloth. It is then placed behind the cooking place, probably in order that it may dry quickly. In Java there are many superstitious notions about this adi ari-ari, as it is there called. It is thought for example that the placenta returns to its place after the confinement, and is
- ↑ Sòë gata?—Han kupeugah.—Pubuët keunòë?—Kujaʾ-jaʾ.—Peuë tajaʾ mita, peuë tameunapsu?—Ulèë eungkōt, gulè ōn murōng, sië balu, bòh itéʾ jruëʾ. As we have seen these last-named objects are those desired by Srabi Tanjōng.
- ↑ Where the speaker is in an Achehnese house, which is raised on posts, the expression "below" is the equivalent of our "out-of-doors."
- ↑ A common form of curse against a pregnant woman is thus: baʾ burōng peutrōn keu = "may the burōng bring you down below."
- ↑ Aweuëh peuët plōh peuët. These will be again referred to in connection with Achehnese medical art.
- ↑ Talòë kiʾiëng. See p. 30 above.
