"The Malays regard these birds with immense respect, and value their
fighting-cocks next to their children. A few years ago, a boy, who
was in charge of a cock which belonged to a Raja of my acquaintance,
accidentally pulled some feathers from the bird's tail. 'What did
you do that for? Devil!' cried the Raja.
"'It was not done on purpose, Ungku!' said the boy.
"'Thou art marvellous clever at repartee!' quoth the Prince, and,
so saying, he lifted a billet of wood, which chanced to be lying near
at hand, and smote the boy on the head so that he died.
"'That will teach my people to have a care how they use my
fighting-cocks!' said the Raja; and that was his servant's epitaph.
"'It is a mere boyish prank,' said the father of the young Raja, when
the matter was reported to him, 'and, moreover, it is well that he
should slay one or two with his own hand, else how should men learn
to fear him?' And there the matter ended; but it should be borne in
mind that the fighting-cock of a Malay Prince is not to be lightly
trifled with."
Of the form of cock-fighting practised on the West Coast of the
Peninsula Newbold writes:--
"The following is a specimen from a Malay MS. on the subject,
commencing with remarks on the various breeds of this noble bird:--
"The best breeds of game-cocks are the Biring, the Jalak, the Teddong,
the Chenantan, [694] the Ijou, the Pilas, the Bongkas, [695] the Su,
the Belurong, [696] and the Krabu. [697]
"The colour of the Biring is red with yellow feet and beak.
"The Jalak is white mixed with black, with yellow feet, and beak also
yellow mixed with black.
"The Teddong has black eyes and legs, red and black plumage, and
a black beak. It is named from a sort of serpent, whose bite is
accounted mortal.
"The Chenantan has white feathers, feet, and beak.
"The Ijou has a greenish black beak, feathers black mixed with white,
legs green.
"The Pilas has a black beak, red and black feathers, legs white mixed
with black.
"The Bongkas has a yellow beak, white feathers and yellow feet.
"The Su has a white beak with white spots, plumage white and black,
legs white with black spots.
"The Belurong has a white beak with red spots, plumage red, white feet.
"The Krabu has a red beak mixed with yellow, red feathers and yellow
feet.
"There are two kinds of spurs: first, the Golok Golok, in the form of
a straight knife known by this name and in use with the Malays; and,
secondly, the Taji Benkok, or curved spur: the last is most in vogue.
"There are various modes of tying on the spur, viz. Salik, or below the
natural spur; Kumbar, on a level with it; Panggong, above the spur;
Sa ibu Tangan, a thumb's breadth below the knee joint; Sa Kalinking,
a little finger's breadth; Andas Bulu, close to the feathers under the
knee; Jankir, upon the little toe; Sauh wongkang, on the middle toe;
Berchingkama, tying the three large toes together with the spur--this
is the most advantageous; Golok, binding the little toe and the toe on
the left with the spur; Golok di Battang, below the natural spur. It is
necessary to observe that the Malays generally use one spur; though two
spurs are sometimes given to match a weaker against a stronger bird.
"1. The winner takes the dead bird.
"2. If a drawn battle (Sri) each takes his own.
"3. No person but the holder shall interfere with the cocks after
they have been once set to, even if one of them run away, except by
the permission of the Juara, or setter-to. Should any person do so,
and the cock eventually win the battle, the owners shall be entitled
to half the stakes only.
"4. Should one of the cocks run away, and the wounded one pursue
it, both birds shall be caught and held by their Juaras. Should the
runaway cock refuse to peck at its adversary three times, the wings
shall be twined over the back, and it shall be put on the ground for
its adversary to peck at; should he too refuse, after it has been
three times presented, it is a Sri, or drawn battle. The cock that
pecks wins.
"5. The stakes on both sides must be forthcoming and deposited on
the spot.
"6. A cock shall not be taken up unless the spur be broken, even by
the Juaras.
"When a cock has won his disposition changes.
"A cock is called Cheyma when he chooses round grains of paddy,
or fights with his shadow, or spurs or pecks at people.
"The Malays believe in the influence of certain periods in the day
over the breeds of cocks. They will not bet upon a bird with black
plumage that is matched against one with yellow and white at the period
Kutika Miswara; nor against a black one set to with a white one at
the period Kutika Kala. Kutika Sri is favourable in this case for
the white feathered bird. Kutika Brahma is propitious to a red cock
matched against a light grey; and Kutika Vishnu for a green cock. [698]
"I once witnessed a grand contest between two Malayan States at the
breaking up of the Ramazan fast. Most of the cock-fighters presented
themselves at the Golongan or cock-pit with a game-cock under each
arm. The birds were not trimmed as in England, but fought in full
feather. The spurs used on this occasion were about two and a half
inches long, in shape like the blade of a scythe, and were sharpened
on the spot by means of a fine whetstone; large gashes were inflicted
by these murderous instruments, and it rarely happened that both cocks
survived the battle. Cocks of the same colour are seldom matched. The
weight is adjusted by the setters-to passing them to and from each
other's hands as they sit facing each other in the Golongan. Should
there be any difference, it is brought down to an equality by the spur
being fixed so many scales higher on the leg of the heavier cock, or
according to rules adverted to, as deemed fair by both parties. One
spur only is used, and is generally fastened near the natural spur
on the inside of the left leg. In adjusting these preliminaries
the professional skill of the setters-to is called into action, and
much time is taken up in grave deliberation, which often terminates
in wrangling. The birds, after various methods of irritating them
have been practised, are then set to. During the continuance of
the battle, the excitement and interest taken by the Malays in the
barbarous exhibition is vividly depicted in their animated looks and
gestures--everything they possess in the world being often staked on
the issue.
"The breed of cocks on the Peninsula more resembles the game-fowl
of England than the large lanky breed known in Europe under the term
'Malay.' Great attention is paid by natives to the breed and feeding
of game-cocks." [699]
Games
"Gambling of various descriptions, both with dice and with cards, is
much in vogue. These, as well as the poe-table, have been introduced
by the Chinese, who are even greater adepts than the Malays in all
that relates to this pernicious vice.
"Saparaga [700] is a game resembling football, played by ten or twenty
youths and men, who stand in a circle, keeping up a hollow ratan ball
in the air, which is passed to and fro by the action of the knees and
feet--the object being to prevent the ball from touching the ground;
it is frequently, however, taken at the rebound. The awkwardness of
novices occasions great merriment.
"The Sangheta [701] is a game implicating broken heads; but,
properly speaking, is a 'vi et armis' mode of arbitration in matters
of dispute between two Sukus or tribes. A certain number of men from
each tribe turn out and pelt each other with sticks and logs of wood,
until one of the parties gives in. The victors in this petty tourney
are presumed to have the right on their side.
"The Malays are remarkably attached to singing reciprocal Pantuns,
stanzas comprising four alternate rhyming lines, of which notice has
been taken elsewhere. Poetical contests in the Bucolic style are often
carried on to a great length by means of Pantuns. To music Malays
are passionately devoted, particularly to that of the violin. They
evince a good ear, and great readiness in committing to memory even
European airs. A voyage or journey of any length is seldom undertaken
by the better classes without a minstrel.
"Takki Takki [702] are riddles and enigmas, to the propounding and
solving of which the females and educated classes of the people are
much inclined.
"The games played by children are Tujoh Lobang, [703] Punting, Chimpli,
Kechil Krat, Kuboh, etc." [704]
Of all minor games, top-spinning and kite-flying are perhaps the most
popular. The kites are called layang-layang, which means a "swallow,"
but are sometimes of great size, one which was brought to me at Langat
measuring some six feet in height by about seven feet between the tips
of the wings. The peculiarity of the Malay kite is that it presents a
convex, instead of a concave, surface to the wind, and that no "tail"
is required, the kite being steadied by means of a beak which projects
forward at the top of the framework. They are also usually provided
with a thin, horizontal slip of bamboo (dengong) stretched tightly
behind the beak, and which hums loudly in the wind. They are of a
great number of different but well-recognised patterns, such as the
"Fighting Dragons" (Naga berjuang), the Crescent (Sahari bulan),
the Eagle (Rajawali), the Bird of Paradise (Chendrawasih), and so
forth. A small kind of roughly-made kite is, as is well known, used
at Singapore for fishing purposes, but I have never yet met with any
instance of their being used ceremonially, though it is quite certain
that grown-ups will fly them with quite as much zest as children.
Top-spinning, again, is a favourite pastime among the Malays, and is
played by old and young of all ranks with the same eagerness. [705]
The most usual form of top is not unlike the English pegtop, but has
a shorter peg. It is spun in the same way and with the same object
as our own pegtop, the object being to split the top of one's opponent.
Teetotums are also used, and I have seen in Selangor a species of
bamboo humming-top, but was told that it was copied from a humming-top
used by the Chinese.
"The game of chess, which has been introduced from Arabia, [706]
is played in almost precisely the same manner as among Europeans,
but the queen, instead of being placed upon her own colour, is
stationed at the right hand of the king. In the Malay game the king,
if he has not been checked, can be castled, but over one space only,
not over two, as in the English game. The king may, also, before he
is checked or moved from his own square, move once, like a knight,
either to left or right, and he may also, if he has not moved or
been checked, move once over two vacant squares instead of one." The
following are the names of the pieces:--
1. Raja, the King.
2. Mentri ("Minister"), the Queen.
3. Ter or Tor, the Castle.
4. Gajah ("Elephant"), the Bishop.
5. Kuda ("Horse"), the Knight.
6. Bidak, the Pawns. [707]
Main chongkak, again, is a game played with a board (papan chongkak)
consisting of a boat-shaped block.
In the top of this block (where the boat's deck would be) are sunk
a double row of holes, the rows containing eight holes each, and two
more holes are added, one at each end. Each of the eight holes (in both
rows) is filled at starting with eight buah gorek (the buah gorek being
the fruit of a common tree, also called kelichi in Malacca). There are
usually two players who pick the buah gorek out of the holes in turn,
and deposit them in the next hole according to certain fixed rules of
numerical combination, a solitary buah gorek, wherever it is found,
being put back and compelled to recommence its journey down the board.
A similar game is, I believe, known in many parts of the East, and
was formerly much played even by Malay slaves, who used to make the
double row of holes in the ground when no board was obtainable.
The Malay game of Draughts (main dam) is played, I believe, in exactly
the same manner as the English game. Backgammon (main tabal), on the
other hand, is played in two different ways.
The "Tiger" Game (main rimau), or "Tiger and Goat" Game (main rimau
kambing), is a game which has a distinct resemblance to our own "fox
and goose," there being usually four tigers to a dozen of the goats.
Cards
"Cards are called Kertas sakopong. The Malays are fond of card games,
but few Europeans have taken the trouble to understand or describe
them. The late Sir W. E. Maxwell contributed the following description
of daun tiga 'lei to the Notes and Queries of the Journal of the
Straits Asiatic Society. It refers to the game in question as played
in Perak:--
"Hearts, Lekoh. King, Raja.
Diamonds, Retin. Queen, Bandahara
Clubs, Kalalawar. Knave, Pekah.
Spades, Sakopong. Ace, Sat.
To shuffle, Kiyat, mengiyat.
To deal, Membawa.
To cut, Kerat.
To sweep the board, make everyone pay, Mengelong.
"Three cards are dealt out to each player. The highest hand counting
by pips is that which contains the greatest number of pips after the
tens are deducted. Thus a knave, ten, and nine is a good hand.
"The best hand is three aces, Sat tiga.
"The next best is three court-cards, Kuda; naik kuda.
"The next is nine.
"The next is eight.
"All these four hands are known as terus. A hand of three threes is
really a good hand, being nine, but it is considered a propitiation
of good luck to throw it down (without exposing it), and announce
that one is buta, in the hopes of getting good luck afterwards.
"Each player makes two stakes--kapala and ekor. They may be of equal
value, or the ekor may be of greater value than the kapala.
"The kapala must not be of greater value than the ekor; that is called
tual ka ujong (tual = berat).
"Or there may be a single stake only, which is called podul.
"Betting between players is called sorong, or tuwi, or sorong tuwi.
"A pool, tuwi tengah.
"The ekor stake is only paid to the dealer if he holds one of the
hands called terus, and if a smaller hand is held by a player, then
the dealer takes both kapala and ekor (mengelong).
"A player who holds thirty exactly (except when he has three
court-cards, kuda) is said to be out (buta).
"Any one except the player on the right of the dealer may cut. The
player who cuts looks at the bottom card of those that he lifts,
and if he thinks it is a lucky cut he accepts it and puts down the
card he has lifted (pengerat).
"The dealer then puts the rest of the pack on top of the cut, and in
his turn lifts a portion of the pack (pengangkat), and looks at the
bottom card.
"There are all sorts of names for different cards and combinations of
cards of various degrees of luck, and these are quoted by the cutter
and dealer, each declaring his confidence in the luck coming to him
by reason of the cutting or lifting of a particular card.
Five of clubs, Tiang ampat Penghulu chelong.
Chukup dengan gambala-nia.
Nine of diamonds, Bunga kachang raja budiman.
Ten of clubs, Gagak sa-kawan raja di-hilir.
Singgah makan pedindang masak.
Masak pun lalu muda pun lalu.
Ace of diamonds if cut, Buntut kris Raja Bandahara.
Do. if the hands of the dealer, Anak yatim jalan sa'orang.
Satu pun tidak marabahaya.
Two of diamonds, Semut ginting Che Amat pelak.
Two of hearts, Batang jamban.
Six is an unlucky card, Daun anam jahanam.
Nine of hearts, Hari panas kubang ber-ayer.
"A player does not hastily look at his three cards and learn his fate
at once, but he prolongs the excitement by holding his cards tight
together, and looking alternately at the outside ones, and last of
all at the middle one, sliding out the latter between the two others
little by little. Thus it is left uncertain for some time whether a
card is an eight or a seven, a nine or a ten.
"A man to whom a court-card, an eight, and an ace is dealt (if
the eight is in the middle), on finding that he has eleven by the
two outside ones, says, for instance, Handak kaki tiga, and then
commences to slide out the middle card, hoping that it is going to
be an eight, or at all events a seven (three pips on each side). This
particular hand is called lang siput, because it is certain to carry
off something.
"A man who has just held a winning hand will say, in expressing
a hope of continued good luck, 'Teman handak pisang sarabu, sudah
sa-batang sa-batang pula.' (The plantain called sarabu is one which
puts out fruit from every stem of the perdu about the same time,
or one immediately after another.)" [708]
The following account of card games as played in Selangor was compiled
some years ago by the writer. The names of the cards used in Selangor
are these:--
Hearts, Lekok or Pangkah.
Diamonds, Reten (retim), or Chiduk.
Clubs, K'lawer, or Kelalawer.
Spades, Dayong Kling, or Sakopong.
King, Raja.
Queen, Proh, or Nyonya.
Knave, Pekak, or Hamba.
Ace, Sat.
To shuffle, Banchoh, or Menggaul.
To deal, Membagi.
To cut, K'rat.
To sweep the board, Merelong, or Mengg'long.
To pay all round, Mendader chingkeh.
A picture or court card, Angkong, or Kuda.
A three, Jalor (e.g. two threes, dua jalor).
A card (ordinary), Daun.
A sequence, G'lik (Daun sa-g'lik).
The three most important card games are--(1) main sakopong, (2)
main chabut, (3) main tiga 'lei, or pakau.
1. In the game called sakopong all cards from two to six are cast
out, and five cards are dealt out to each of the players (who may
be from two to four in number); a player leads (turunkan) the card,
and the next player has either to follow suit (turunkan daun sagaji)
or throw down a card, turning it over (susupkan). If the next player
is able to follow suit, whoever plays the highest card of the suit
wins. If each player wins a trick it is declared drawn (s'ri), and
in this case all stakes are returned.
2. Main chabut is a species of vingt-et-un, and is played with either
twenty-one or thirty-one points. If twenty-one points only is the game,
court-cards are not counted; but if the game is thirty-one points
they are also added in. Two cards are dealt by the dealer (perdi)
to each player, who draws (chabut) fresh cards from the bottom of
the pack in his turn, and gets as near as possible to thirty-one. If
he thinks he cannot safely draw another card (e.g. after twenty-six
pips are in his hand) he "passes" (which is called b'lit kechil if he
stops at twenty-six, twenty-seven, or twenty-eight, and b'lit besar
if he stops at twenty-nine or thirty).
If he obtains exactly thirty-one pips he is said to "enter the points"
(masok mata); but no player can draw more than seven cards, and if he
has, after drawing to the full limit, still failed to obtain as many
pips as he wants, he is said to "enter the pack" (masok daun). I may
add that the first two cards are called lunas or "keels," and this
may be of various kinds, e.g.:--
1. Lunas nikah, i.e. angkong dengan sat (a court-card and an ace).
2. Kachang di-rendang di-tugalkan, i.e. two aces; a very convenient
hand, as the aces may be reckoned as either one or eleven, as
occasion may require.
3. Lunas sa-glabat, or sagaji ampat-b'las, i.e. angkong dengan daun
ampat (court-card and four).
4. Lunas dua jalor, two threes.
5. Ace and two, which is the best of all.
In playing chabut or "casting out," the tens should be thrown away
(di-buang daun puloh). When two players have the same number of
pips--e.g. nine and nine or eight and eight--the coincidence is
described in the words, Jumpa di jalan, di-adu, kalah, di-chabut,
mati. To be "bluffed" is called kena ranjau (wounded by a caltrop).
And again, when a player has obtained, let us say, twenty-six pips
with six cards, and so has only one more chance, and is afraid to
risk it, his position is ridiculed in the phrase, Sa-nepak Ulu Klang,
a jest of obviously local coinage.
The phrase Tengah tiang (half mast), again, is applied to twenty-five
pips held irrespective of the number of cards; and if more than
thirty-one are obtained, the player is said to be out (mati, or
masok piring).
3. Daun tiga 'lei or Pakau is played here as follows:--
Three cards are dealt by the dealer to each player, and the winner
is he who holds the greatest number of pips, with certain exceptions.
Daun t'rus The best hand is three aces (tiga sat).
The next is three threes (tiga jalor).
The next is three tens (tiga puloh).
The next is three court-cards (tiga angkong or
tiga kuda).
Of other hands the best is a remainder of nine
pips left after deducting ten from a hand of
nineteen pips.
The next is a remainder of eight pips, and so
on.
A hand of three threes, it will be observed, is the second best hand
in Selangor, whereas in Perak, according to Sir W. E. Maxwell, it is
thrown away as the worst.
The stakes, which are deposited in two heaps by each player, are
here called kapala or "head," and buntut (or ekor), the "tail,"
respectively; the kapala being generally, though perhaps not always,
greater than the ekor in Selangor, instead of the reverse. The latter
can only be lost when a player sweeps the board. A single stake,
again, is podul (or occasionally tual), but bertuwi is applied to
betting between players, and sorong or tokong means to put down a
stake before your rival replies with a counter-stake (berteban or
topah). A player who holds thirty exactly is not out here--e.g.,
he may hold a court-card and two tens. To look at the bottom card is
menengo' angkatan.
Sir W. E. Maxwell gives a number of names and phrases applied to
particular cards and combinations of cards, to which I may add--
Two nines and a two--China Keh mengandar ayer.
An eight and an ace (making nine) with a court-card, or a ten and
two nines--Sembilang bertelor.
Two court-cards and a nine--Parak hari 'nak siang.
The four of any suit--Tiang jamban Lebai `Ali.
The explanation of handak kaki tiga, as applied to an eight, appears
to be that the eight has three pips on each side. It is also called
berisi sa-b'lah. Minta' penoh (I ask for a full one) means I want
a nine (?), and minta' tombak (I ask for a lance), I want two pips
(or three, as the case may be).
Besides the above, there are miniature or bijou cards
(cheki)--e.g. cheki dua-b'las, cheki lima-b'las and 'tan or beretan
daun sambilan, etc., the daun cheki being distinguished by their
borders, e.g. iyu kuching, iyu nyonya, iyu panjang, iyu merak besar,
iyu kasut; and again gapet, gapet k'rang, gapet rintek, gapet lichin;
babi, babi rintek, babi pusat, babi lichin; kau merah, kau bulat,
kau lichin; layer, layer rintek, layer pitis, layer lichin. Six to
seven people play these games. A sort of whist is also played from
time to time under the name of main trup. At this game a trick is
called sapudi; to sweep the board is pukol tani; and the players who
get no tricks at all are said to be sold up (kena kot). [709]
Children's Games
I will now give some specimens of the games I have seen played by
children:--
"Throwing the Flower across" (champak bunga sa-b'lah) is a game which
I have seen thus played by boys.
A handkerchief was twisted up (like a rope) from corner to corner,
folded in half, and then tied together at the ends.
Two couples stood facing one another at a few yards' distance, and at
a given signal one of the boys in each couple took his companion up
on to his shoulders. The two who were mounted threw the handkerchief
across to each other, and back again by turns. When the one failed
to catch it, both riders dismounted and offered backs to their late
"mounts," who thus became riders, and threw the handkerchief in their
turn. Each time, however, that a catch was made both parties crossed
over. When three catches were made in unbroken succession (kelerik)
the riders had the privilege of being carried across three times
before recommencing play.
I should add that a coin was tossed up at the outset of the game to
decide who were to start as the riders, and who were to be the ridden.
Main Sesel (or Kachau kueh) bears a strong family resemblance to our
own "Hen and chickens." When I witnessed it, a big boy played the
"Paterfamilias" with a string of children at his back, each of whom
was holding on to the one in front of him. Presently a "Cakeseller"
presented himself, and the following conversation ensued:--
Paterfamilias: Ada kueh? (Have you any cake?)
Cakeseller: Ada. (I have.)
P.F.: Buleh aku b'li? (Can I buy some?)
C.: Buleh. (Yes.)
Here the Cakeseller hands a ball of earth to Paterfamilias, who passes
it down the line of children to the youngest child at the end of the
row. The conversation then recommenced--
Cakeseller: Aku minta' duit. (I want my money.)
P.F.: Duit t'ada, anak kunchi tinggal di jamban. (I have got no
money, I have mislaid the key.) Kalau mahu ambil budak, ambil
yang di-b'lakang. (If you wish to take one of my children, take
the last.)
Here a desperate effort was made by the poor Cakeseller to dodge
past Paterfamilias and get at the boy, whom he eventually succeeded
in carrying off.
Main Tul is a game somewhat resembling our own "Puss in the corner,"
but with only one "home." The "home" consisted of a stake planted
upright, and the first "Puss" (orang tul) was selected by a species of
divination depending upon repetition of the same formula as is used to
select the blind man in Blind Man's Buff (Main China Buta). There was
(as I have said) only one home in this game, from which the players
sallied forth to taunt the orang tul, and which they were obliged to
touch in order to save themselves when closely pursued.
Main Seladang (Wild Bull game) is an excellent game for children with
the shoeless feet of the East. A "wild bull" having been selected
by repetition of the Ping hilang formula, went upon all fours, and
entered into the following conversation between himself and one of the
other players specially selected for the purpose. The latter opened
negotiations with the clearly non-committal, if not very lucid remark,
"Tam tam kul" to which the "Bull" replied, "Buat apa guna bakul"
(What are you going to do with your basket?)
Boy: Mengisi arang. (To hold charcoal.)
Bull: Buat apa guna arang? (What will you do with the charcoal?)
Boy: Menempa (or masak) lembing. (I shall forge a spear.)
Bull: Buat apa guna lembing? (What use will you make of the spear?)
Boy: Menikam seladang. (To stab a bull with.)
Bull (who is getting excited): Buat apa guna di-tikam? (What use will
it be to stab him?)
Boy: Mengambil hati-nya. (To get his heart.)
Bull (who is now fairly savage): Buat apa guna hati-nya? (What use
will you make of his heart?)
Boy: Buat santap Raja Muda. (Get the Crown Prince to partake (of it).)
The Bull at the end of this baiting was ready to "charge" anybody
and everything, and did accordingly run at the rest of the players,
kicking out with all his might at anybody who came near. As he had
to move on all fours he could not go very fast, and the other players
took advantage of this to bait him still further by slapping him on the
back and jumping over him. Whenever they came near enough he lashed
out with his heels, and when he succeeded in kicking another player
below the knee, the latter became a Bull in his turn. Much agility
is displayed in this game, which is thoroughly enjoyed by the players.
"Blind Man's Buff" (Main China Buta, or "Blind Chinaman") is played in
exactly the same manner as our own Blind Man's Buff; one of the party,
with bandaged eyes, being required to catch any one who comes near him.
The first blind man--at the commencement of the game--is chosen as
follows: the intending players sit down together in a close circle,
each of them putting down the tips of their forefingers in the centre
of the circle; then somebody who is not playing taps each of them
on the head in turn, repeating at each tap a word of the following
formula:--
1 2 3 4
ping hilang patah paku
plate (=piring?) disappear break nail
5 6 7 8
dalam biling chhari aku
within chamber (=bilek?) search for me
9 10 11 12
ping 'dah 'ning 'dah
got clear(?) got
13
hilang.
disappear.
The meaning of this formula (as is the case with so many "nursery"
rhymes) is very obscure, several words being unintelligible or at
least doubtful. It is, however, the regular formula used for such
games and is quite common. [710]
Chan chan siku rembat is a game which I saw played in Selangor as
follows:--
The intending players stood in a row, looking straight in front of
them, but with their hands behind their backs, whilst another boy, who
had a piece of wood in his hand, walked down the line touching their
hands and counting as he went the words of the following refrain:--
1 2 3 4
chan chan siku rembat
5 6 7 8
buah lalu di- b'lakang
the fruit (or ball) is passing behind (you)
9 10 11 12
mata pejam tangan lihat
your eyes (are) closed (but your) hand sees!
13 14 15 16
siapa chepat dia melompat
whoever (is) nimble (let) him take the leap.
The "fruit" (or piece of wood, as the case may be) was left in the
palm of one of the boys, and as soon as the reciter came to the end of
the rhyme the boy with the token had to jump out of the ranks before
he was stopped by the boys on each side of him, each of whom suddenly
stretched out his legs for the purpose of tripping up the runaway. When
they touched him he lost his turn, but if he succeeded in getting
clear without being touched he obtained the privilege of going to the
other end of the ground and calling any boy he chose out of the ranks
to carry him back again, at the invitation of the late spokesman. On
his return he was stopped in front of the ranks with the challenge:--
Q. Datang de'mana? (Whence do you come?)
A. Datang de' Bali. (I come from Bali.)
Q. Apa di-bawa? (What do you bring?)
A. Bawa kuali. (I bring a cooking-pot.)
Q. Siapa nakhoda? (Who is the master (of the vessel)?)
A. Nakhoda 'Che `Ali. ('Che `Ali is the master.)
Q. Mana sampan tunda? (Where is the boat you were towing?)
A. Putus tali. (Parted from the rope.)
Q. Mana pas? (Where is your pass?)
In reply to this last question the pass (i.e. the fruit or piece of
wood) was shown and both boys rejoined the ranks, whereupon the game
recommenced da capo.
Hantu Musang or "The Pole-cat Fiend," is a game in which a boy sits
down (between two others) with a cloth thrown over his head, the
ends of which are twisted up (like rope ends) by the two boys on each
side of him; the cloth fits his head like a cap, with a long end at
the back and in front. First the boy in front pulls his end of the
cloth and then the boy at the back pulls his end, thus causing the
boy between them to rock to and fro. This treatment is continued for
some time while they repeat the following rhyme:--
Chok gelechok ....
Gali-gali ubi. A-digging tapioca
Mana kayu bongkok Wherever (there is) knotted timber
Disitu musang jadi. There the pole-cat breeds.
Chang gulichang ....
Serak bunga lada Scatter (?) pepper-blossom.
Datang hantu musang The pole-cat fiend has arrived
Ayam sa'ekor t'ada. And not a fowl is left.
As soon as this rhyme is finished the two outside boys make off as
fast as they can, pursued by the "pole-cat," who is allowed to give
a really good bite (in the arm) to the first person he overtakes.
Main Tunggul.--This game I saw played with four boys a side. A
boy was selected to represent the tunggul or stump, and took up his
position at a little distance (about half-way between the two parties
as they stood facing each other a few yards apart). Up to the stump
(tunggul) a boy from each of the sides alternately ran and whispered
the name of a boy belonging to the opposite party. This whispering
was continued until the names of the two boys selected happened to
agree, the tunggul then making a gesture, at which the boys of one
of the sides crossed over and carried back on their shoulders the
boys belonging to the opposite side.
Kuching (the Cat Game) was a mere guessing game. The "guesser,"
or witness (saksi), stood at a little distance with his face turned
away whilst another boy was selected to play "puss," and yet another
boy was permitted to twitch him on the ear or wherever else he might
prefer. Then the "witness" was told to turn round, and going up to the
"cat" he made his guess.
Sorok-sorok is merely the Malay equivalent of our hide-and-seek,
with the exception that whereas hide-and-seek may be played by day as
well as by night, the game of sorok-sorok should properly be played
at night alone.
Main Galah Panjang.--A square of ground is marked out into four
quarters by a cross (as in the accompanying figure), and on it a game
not unlike our own "Tom Tiddler's Ground" is played (by three players
on each side). The name means the "Long Pole" game.
Another child's game is called Sanebang, and is played as follows:--
Two players sit down on the floor facing each other and chant the
following rhyme, one of them lightly touching the other's left arm
in time to the music:--
Sanebang sanebu Sanebang! sanebu!
Kuala Sambau At the mouth of the (river) Sambau
Ujan bunut In the drizzling rain
Mandi katong Bathes the Katong, [711]
Sentak pelok Twitch and embrace
Tangan Tuan Putri The Princess's hand.
The well-known game called Sapu-sapu 'Ringin I have seen played
as follows:--
Two players sit down on the floor opposite each other, with their legs
stretched out straight in front of them and their hands in their laps,
and join in singing these lines:--
Sapu-sapu beringin, Brush, brush the banyan-tree,
Katimbun dayong-dayong, A pile of oars lies stacked;
Datang 'Che Aji Lebai Here comes 'Che Aji Lebai
Bawa buaya kudong. Bringing a maimed crocodile:
Kudong kaki, kudong tangan, Maimed in foot and maimed in hand,
Tiada buleh berpulangan. It can't go home again.
Here both players double up one leg under them as they sit; then they
repeat the lines just quoted, doubling up the left leg at the end of
the recital; then they close the fists and pile them one on each other,
the lowest resting on one of the player's knees, and say-- |
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