The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-11-16
THE MINE >sORCERER.
MALAY FAKl7S WHO WORK THE lG-
NORANT AND suPERSTiTlOUS

They Are Not So Potent as They Were
Some Years Ago-Cercmonies Observed
by the Pawang In invoking the Hantu.
or TuteIary Spirit. of the Mine.
Miners in all countries have been noted
for their superstitious beliefs as to va
rious matters affecting their good or i'll
luck. Soothsayers, sorcerers, or at least
lode finders, were in past ages trusted to
secure the satisfactory results which are
now nowadays more reasonably hoped
for on the report of the mining expert
and engineer. The latest survival Of
belief in the occult powers of the "med-
icine man" or sorcerer is probably to be
found in the Malay peninsula, which
contains the most Important tin work
ings yet known to exist. The individ-
ual who thus guides his employers to
fortune. or the reverse. is known as a
pawang.
Until the practical termination of in.
| dependent Malay rule throughout the
major portion of the peninsula, about 10
years ago, the pawang was a recognized
member Of every mining staff, and recog-
nized not only by the mine owners but
by the petty chiefs, who alternately en-
couraged or obstructed mining enter
prise
So potent was he that he could foretell
the prospects Of u mine, levy fines (which
went into his own pocket), direct the
offering up of animal sacrifices and en-
force rules respecting the workings of q
mine which but for him would have
been simply rldiculed by the miners. AL.
though in many districts his pretensions
are now discredited, he still fingers on
superstition with the existing generation
of miners having yet ii firm hold in the
more remote districts.
The pawang may or nay not be the
hereditary successor OF a predecessor
In some cases lie is self made, an 7 at
tains lis position by a few lucky fore.
casts as to the value of a projected mime
In a territory where, rs is sometimes
said, If you dig up the highway, you
are sure to find tin" the supernaturally
gifted prospector has tolerably easy
task. Not that tin IS always found when
hole lis sunk. Eat "A moderate ac.
Guaintance win the usual indications is
quite sufficient. Chinese of limited
means do not often troEb., u pawa y in
the initiatory stages Bat when the
mine-'strea.n tin, or tin sand, witch an
,verburden OF 10 or 20 feet earth and
gravei-is fairly started, the pawane
| suggests that lie alone knows how tc
keep good luck i'll sight. Sometimes he
is politely informed that his services arr
| not wanted, and he leaves IN wrath, pre-.
dieting all sorts of disaster to the unbe
| lieving towkay or manager. Upon the
whole. however, he manages to get his
| way.
A fine PHI -ical appearance is indis
pensable. When engaged in any duty
such as invoking spirits or offering s&cri
fees, 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 hunters in Formosa and gutta
percha hunters in Malaga, he uses q
peculiar vocabulary. Thus cats, ele.
plants, tigers, buffaloes, etc., must not
be mentioned by their usual designation
nor are such animals tigers unfortu
nately sometimes prove unpleasant ex.
ceptions) ever allowed upon a mine.
Perhaps the oldest article in the pa.