MSS Batak 10

Pustaha. The language is typical poda language (the secret language of the magicians), and the script is Simalungun. Side A: ff. 2-71. Text starts with: Poda ni parmangmang ni parmanuhon si aji nangka piring and deals with the well known divination by means of a chicken that is put under a basket after its head had been severed. When it no longer moves, the datu (magician) lifts the basket and observes the position of the fowl. F. A 68 contains descriptions of the two drawings. The text reads: Rajahni bulu si nama inon, ‘this is a drawing of Si Nama bamboo’ (referring to the three creatures that must somehow represent the Si Nama bamboo), and Rajah ni bulu marindu ma inon, ‘this is a drawing of the Marindu (longing) bamboo’. Bulu marindu is among others used to make bamboo flutes (sordam). F. A 67 still deals with rajah of bamboo but the relationship to the drawing of the headless man is not quite clear.Side B: ff. 4-8. Among the contents is a list of items, most likely to conduct a ceremony. It contains bonang manalu, a magical device made of three kind of threads in the colors red, black, and white representing the cosmological order of the upper, middle, and underworld, and a kind of flower called bunga panaput. The text also includes, even though not explicitly described as tabas (mantra), magical formulae invoking spiritual creatures. Each invocation begins with mari ma hamu (Come here) followed by the name of the spirit that is invoked, usually preceded by the title Raja (king). One of them is named Raja Mela di Lautan where Lautan is probably a Malayism (King Mela of the Sea). The invocation concludes with three magical syllables such as lang-lang-lang, ah-ah-ah, etc., as in the following examples: Mari ma hamu si talidondon di lautan lang lang lang mari ma hamu Raja di Mela di Lautan lang lang lang, mari ma hamu si tabu gumbang raya, ah ah ah, mari ma hamu m(?)iringring parminahan ha ha ha, mari ma hamu Raja si maru? haning(?) ngang ngang ngang, This MS identified by Uli Kozok.