Malay Magic
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Originally published in 1900, Walter William Skeat’s Malay Magic was conceived as a comprehensive description of Malay beliefs, folklore and customs. Among other things, it covers customs and rites relating to various aspects of the natural world.
For example, Skeat writes about how Malay pawang (shamans) detect perfumed agarwood (also known as eaglewood), or locally, gaharu.1 The perfume is created by a disease that infects the inner heartwood of the aquilaria tree, making it impossible to tell if a tree is valuable from the outside, hence the need for a pawang. According to Skeat, the process involves the pawang burning incense and repeating a charm or formula until the right tree is found.
For example, Skeat writes about how Malay pawang (shamans) detect perfumed agarwood (also known as eaglewood), or locally, gaharu.1 The perfume is created by a disease that infects the inner heartwood of the aquilaria tree, making it impossible to tell if a tree is valuable from the outside, hence the need for a pawang. According to Skeat, the process involves the pawang burning incense and repeating a charm or formula until the right tree is found.