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[DE-SBB] Ms. or. quart. 800

Classmark
  • Ms. or. quart. 800
Title
  • Pustaha
Collection
Catalogue
  • VOHD 28,1, 198
  • Titik/Hanstein (Seite 298 - 301)

Content

Title

↳ wie in Referenz
  • Pustaha
Subject matter
Region
Content
  • Notes have been added to the ms., indicating that the ms. was obtained in 1842 by the Dutch Navy Captain M. A. Kluyskens in the Minangkabau village of Batipuh (West Sumatra). The notes also contain a lengthy commentary by the anthropologist van Alsten, in which this researcher, who had no knowledge of Batak language and script, lays out his fantastic interpretation of the ms. Based on the drawings contained in the ms., he calculated four world ages of each 1680 years (of each 360 days) before the Great Deluge.
  • А1: left blank.
    А2-59 und В2-61: Poda ni na Haoloan, na (Hatu)rutan Ra(m)bu Siporhas Susuran Batara Guru. An instruction regarding the string oracle (Rambu Siporhas), which covers the entire content of the ms. The Rambu Siporhas (lightening strings) are strings made of the fibre of the sugar palm. These strings are thrown to find out an auspicious day to defeat the enemy in a battle. The procedure the Datu (magician and healer) employs the Rambu Porhas oracle was first described on page 503 of the Transactions of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 1. London 1827. (“Report of a Journey into the Batak country, in the interior of Sumatra, in the year 1824. By Messrs. Burton and Ward, Baptist Missionaries. Communicated by the late Sir Stamford Raffles, Kt. Read April 22, 1826. pp. 485-513).
    “A temporary shed is erected in the midst of the village where all the inhabitants assemble. In the middle of the shed the Datu spreads a green cloth named ulos, to the centre of which are fastened two cords about two feet long, having at their ends a knob of wax intended to represent a human head. These cords, called rambu siporhas, are considered the representatives of the two hostile parties. On different parts of the cords are beads, significant of the different members of each community; the upper ones of the chiefs, the under of the warriors, &c.
    After feasting, dancing, and beating their gongs for some time, the Datu takes in his hands the rambu siporhas in the presence of all the people, when he invokes the wrath of the gods and of their ancestors upon their enemies, and desires them to make it manifest by rambu siporhas, whether at that time they may revenge the wrongs of their country; then letting drop the cords, the Datu discovers by their relative situation and peculiar appearance, what may be expected as the result of an attack at present; and should his report be favourable, they immediately commence operations.”
    As is usually the case with a Rambu Siporhas texts, this text too is said to origin from Si Mangara Pintu and is intended for Guru Mangain ni Aji. The text begins with instructions on how to make oracle strings. This is followed by:
    А 12-25: List of oracle places (Pangarumai), for the most part illustrated by double oracle strings.
    А 25-30: List of oracle interpretations (Panjahai) that relate to the location of the divination strings (Porbosihan ni Rambu Siporhas).
    А 30-36: Various magical formula, some of them are related to the incense offerings (Daupa) and to the strengthening (Panghoras) of the oracle strings. 
    А36-43: Various instructions to cool (Panopu) the oracle strings, to mitigate the adverse effects (Pamuang) of the oracles and to produce magical devices to protect their own warriors (Parangan). The text also contains magical formula and illustrations of magical and illustrations of magical figures (Raja-rajaan).
    А43-47: Requirements for the manufacture of a magical substance which can protect the village people against evil influences (Panabari Sahuta), with the corresponding illustrations of magical (Raja-rajaan).
    А47-51: Poda ni Sangkar ni Rambu Siporhas is the name of the instruction that contains a list of oracle places (Pangarumai), with which it should be possible to determine the persons who should be excluded from going to war.
    А51-55: An instruction called Poda ni Pangarambui Simordihae where the places (of the Rambu?) should have been mentioned that one need to avoid during a journey. However, the text consists of magical formula and mentions various ingredients.
    А55-57: Oracle based on the five times of the day (Pormamis ma Lima), in which the direction of attack and the needed offerings are discussed.
    А57-59: Instruction about the Zodiac Oracle, where only three signs of the zodiac are discussed.
    А60-66: left blank
    А67: glued to the cover
    В1: left blank
  • В2-12: Poda ni Pormesa ni Ra(m)bu Siporhas Susuran Batara Guru: instructions regarding the oracle of the twelve signs of the zodiac in which the Pacifier (Pangalomuk) and the Scare-Devil (Panahut), two popular magical devices, are mentioned.
    В12-15: Divination based on the 30 days of the Batak calendar that is connected with the throwing of the oracle strings (Porbosihan ni Rambu Siporhas). This oracle is supposed to determine the places of the wounds of the own warriors.
    В15-18: Poda ni Panorang na dua hali pitu is the name of an instruction (poda) that contains a list of the offerings that are required for each of the seven days of the week.
     
    В18-21: Instructions regarding the oracle of the twelve signs of the zodiac (Pormesa na Sampulu Dua), the eight Panggorda and the five times of the day (Pormamis na Lima). The oracle is used to determine whether the own warriors will or will not be victorious in the war.
    В21-28: Poda ni Porsili ni Paranganta: instructions to create a substitute (Porsili) for the own warriors. This Porsili is related to the seven days of the week and the twelve months of the year. The text is richly illustrated with anthropomorphic and other figures.
    В28-35: Poda ni Surat na Sampulu Sia: instruction about the 19 letters of the Batak alphabet (one letter is mentioned twice). The letters are used here as magical figures (Raja-rajaan) to inflict great losses to the enemy.
    В36-38: instructions to prepare an offering with the goal to obtain the fair judgment of the gods. The offering is called Mangido Tigor tu Debata (asking the gods for fairness).
    В38-43: instructions to prepare substitute magic (Porsili) to heal a sick person.
    В44-53: Poda ni Pormasak ni Panogu-nogu ni Rambu Siporhas Susuran Batara guru: instructions for the preparation of a luring charm as part of the string oracle that is supposed to bend the enemies to one's will. The text contains various magical formula.
    В54-61: Poda ni Sip(as?)iar Tondi: instructions to prepare another luring charm, which causes the soul of a deceased to descend on a medium (Pasiar Tondi). Apart from instructions for making the charm, the text also contains various magical formula.
    В62-66: left blank
    В67: glued to the cover
Language
Script
Editions/Literature
  • Die Hs. ist von J. Winkler in seinem Aufsatz "Das Zauberbuch von Batipuh", BKI, 110, 1954, S.335ff. ausführlich besprochen worden, wobei Teile des Textes in lateinische Schrift transkribiert und ins Deutsche übersetzt wurden.
    *
    Handschriften aus Südostasien : Ausstellung der Orientabteilung der Staatsbibliothek Preussischer Kulturbesitz / [Ausstellung und Katalog, Dieter George]
    1976. - 64, [6] S. : Ill.
    [ = Tafel 6]
    Signatur: Ser. 19651-7
    *

Description of the object

Record type
Number of volumes
  • 1
Boxing
  • 8,3 x 23,9 x 15,6 cm (Nomi)
Binding
  • zwei Holzdeckel, einer mit einem kunstvollen Ornament (Gorga) versehen

Writing material

↳ Material
Number of folios
  • Die A- und B-Seite enthalten je 67 Faltseiten.
Dimensions
  • 19,7 x 15,5 cm
Illustrations
  • Zeichnungen in rot und schwarz

History of the object

Provenienz

Accession number
  • 1890.297
Provenienz
  • 1890
  • Preis: 270 Mark

Access and usage

Collection
Classmark
  • Ms. or. quart. 800
↳ alternate
  • Accession number : 1890.297
Editor
  • Grubauer
status of edit
  • First input complete
Static URL
https://www.qalamos.org/receive/DE1Book_manuscript_00005141
MyCoRe ID
DE1Book_manuscript_00005141 (XML view)
Export
Metadata license
CC0 1.0
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