Malay text on divination

Malay text in black ink with some charts and symbols, on sewn pages, wrapped in a folded bark cover. Inside the front cover, there is a slip of paper adhered which notes: "Taken at capture of Ongar. Malay Peninsula. Perak War 1875-76. Richard Poore." The signature of R Poore appears again versa the first page, and on the sixth page it appears again, together with "Jan 4th 1876. Kota taina".

Together with the Malay text are two related items:

1. Typescript commentary, and transliterated passage (2 sheets, dated 1997) by A T Gallop, which describes the text as a "Malay text on divination, death omens, auspicious and inauspicious times, and prayers".

2. On the back of an envelope, a brief transliteration of the opening text, with the comment: "This seems a form of calendar as a lot of days are marked, phases of the moon are mentioned and superstitions as to the appearance of it denote sickness death etc." The note is not signed (envelope addressed to Col L A Clutterbuck, Editor, "The Bond of Sacrifice").

The opening text, transliterated, begins (f.2V): "Bab kepada menyatakan alamat mati kepada hari dan bulan. Bahawa rahasyia inilah daripada sidang pandita mengajarkan kepada muridnya supaya ia tahu kepada alamat mati. Sebermula jika dipandangnya kepada bulan Muharam dan Safar itu hitam warnanya, alamatnya matilah kita kepada bulan itu, wa-Allahu 'alam."