The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-12-14
THE soRcERER OF THE MINE.
superstftions Which Yet Prevail on the
Malay Peninsula

Malay Peninsula
Miners in all countries have been
noted for their superstit;ous beliefs as
TO various matters affecting their good
or Ill luck- Soothsayers. sorcerers. or
at least lode finders. were in past ages
trusted to secure the satisfactory re-
suits which are Bewadays more rea-
sonahly hoped for on the result of the
mining expert and engineer. The
latest survival Of belief In the occult
powers of the ''rnedicine man" or
sorcerer, IS probably to be found in the
Malay peninsula. which contains the
most important tin workings vet known
to exist. The individual who thus
guides his employers to fortune-or the
reverse-is known as a pawarg.
Until the practical termination of
independent Malay rule throughout
the major portion of the peninsula.
about nine teen years'ago. the pawang
was recognized member of every min
ing taff-and recognized not only by
mine owners but by the petty chiefs.
who alternately encouraged or OBJ
structed mining enterprise
So potent was he that he could fore
tell the prospects of a mine, levy fines
(which went into his own pocket), di-
rect the offering up of animal sacri-
fices. and enforce rules respecting the
workings of mine which, but for him,
would have been simply ridiculed by
the miners. Although in many dis
tric:s his pretensions are now discred-
tied, he still fingers on. superstition
with the existing generation of min
ers having vet firm hold in the more
remote districts.
The pawang may or may not be the
hereditary successor of predecessor
In some cases he is self-made. and at
tains his position by few lucky fore
casts as to the value of a projected
mine. In a territory where, as is some
times said, IF you dig up the high
way you are sure to find tin" the su-
pernaturally gifted prospector has q
tolerably easy task. Not that tin is
always found when a hole is sunk.
But moderate acquaintance with the
usual indications is quite sufficient
Chinese of limited means do not often
trouble a pawang in the initiatory
stages. But when the mine-'stream
tin" or tin sand, with an over burden
of ten or twenty feet of earth and
gravel-is fairly started the pawang
suggests that he alone knows how TO
keep good luck in sight. Sometimes
he is politely informed that his services
are not wanted, and he leaves in
wrath, predicting all sorts of disaster
to the unbelieving towkay or manager
Upon the whole, however. he manages
to get his way.
A fine physical appearance is indis-
pensa BILE. When engaged in any duty.
such as invoking spirits or offering sac
rifices. he is allowed to assume only
one of two positions, with his hands
resting on his hips, or with them
clasped behind his back. He alone is
allowed to wear black coat in the
mine. AS in the case of camphor hunt
ers in Formosa and gutta- percha
hunters in Malaga, he uses a peculiar
vocabulary. Thus cats. elephants.
tigers, buffaloes, etc, must not be
mentioned by their usual designations
nor are such animals tigers unfortu-
nately sometimes prove unpleasant ex-
ceptions) ever allowed upon a mine
Perhaps the oldest article in the paw
ang's Index expurgatorius" is the
lime fruit or lemon, which under no
circumstances may be brought 10 a
mine; and should the juice be thrown
trfr tho 1tra
dreaded. Raw cotton, glass and earth
enware, or an unsheathed spear or
kris. are equally anathema, all the
articles mentioned being offensive TO
the hantu or spirits which haunt the
mine.
Assuming that the pawang is en-
gagged by a mine-owner at "A fee vary
ing from fifteen to thirty pounds, his
first business is 20 erect platform or
altar constructed of a special kind of
wood. The fur branches which serve
as supports have the bark peeled off
for about four and half feet f. ON the
ground to where the twigs begin. The
leaves on the latter are not removed
A square platform. measuring fifteen
inches each way of peeled sticks, is
fixed to these supports at about three
feet from the ground. A foot above
this comes railing round three sides
OF the platform, while the rallied lad
der with four rungs reaches from the
open side OF the platform to the
ground. FrinQes of cocoanut ornament
the railing, and the whole construction
is bound together with Carpets
rattan, however, being forbidden.
Upon it offerings are laid and the
pawang involies the hantu or tHtelary
spirit of the mine TO bless it with good
fortune. 4 bag OF tin sand from the
first washing is the fee paid for this
service. Sometimes a cheaper kind OF
altar Is made by placing in the ground
a single peeled stick with its upper end
split in four upon which is placed the
little platform above described. The
next process IL TO hang an sncna or
square frame about eighteen inches
each way in the smeiting house just
under the caves Of the roof This
serves as an interior altar upon which
the miners place their offerings 10 the
hantu. The accurate hanging up Of
the ancha is matter Of special care.
These preliminsries accom- plished,
the mine is considered sure o: luck.
Pail Mall Gazettc.