XIX

NOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS

Introduction The numerous copies of Balinese palmleaf manuscripts which have been added to the Leiden University Library’s collection through the activities of the cooperators in the Hooykaas-Këtut Saqka project contain many drawings made by Balinese artists which would have made good illustrations for the present book. They are as a rule connected with the Balinese belief in the existence of spirits and demons, and the trust in the efficacy of magic to counteract evil influences. Many drawings were made to be used as amulets or charms. Plate 2 and 3 in volume III of Lit. of Java, 1970, p. 3, are reproductions of rajahs and kutas, magic figures, found in Balinese palmleaf manuscripts. Dr. Hooykaas’ richly illustrated books «Religion in Bali», 1973, and «Balinese Magic Illustrated», 1979, contain many more reproductions of Balinese drawings on palmleaf connected with magic and religion. 1 In contradistinction to the Balinese drawings in traditional so-called wayag style, in many cases made by professional artists, the plates in the present volume IV of Lit. of Java have been borrowed from the volumes of Javanese stories on folklore of the Yogyakarta country-side written and illustrated by simple village dalarjs at the request of Mr. Moens (see the introduction to the collection Moens before LOr 12.507). The plates have been chosen on account of the information on popular customs and folklore they provide. Their purport is explained in the notes following the Javanese texts. The style of the plates is sometimes rather naturalistic, the drawing is clumsy, except in a few cases. The majority °f the illustrations of the collection Moens is in a boorish wayaij style, though, since the

Among the well-known paintings on canvas made by Balinese artists, the category of the palalintarjans was originally connected with divination. The paintings show figures of the 35 days (5 x 7) of a Balinese “month”, connected with zodiac signs (lintay). A description and explanation of palalintarfans is inserted in the present author’s Copenhagen Catalogue of Indonesian Manuscripts COMDC 4.2. 1977. Balinese drawings on palmleaf representing scenes from epics (Ramayana, with monkeys, see plate 12, in vol. Ill, p. 11) or romances (love stories) are not uncommon. They have been made in considerable numbers (and sometimes of inferior quality) t0 mee t the demand of foreign tourists who visited Bali in ever increasing crowds from the beginning of third decade of the 20th century.