Rare magic book from the Toba Batak tribe. Large book with an exceptional number of drawings and decorated wooden covers. During his training, an apprentice priest has to write down all rituals, spells, songs, incantations, medicines, herbs, and the like in a book. Later, when he has become a priest, he has a book of reference which he can fall back on. The script is based on Sanskrit. There are dictionaries which can help you translate the text. The book has two wooden covers with a, because of use, worn picture, which corresponds with the images on the inside. Harmonica pages made of birch bark. Has a few humidity spots and a few split pages (see photos). The drawings and text were made with natural pigments. All in all somewhat worn because of age, frequent use and the climate. 136 pages, writings on both sides. When you fully extend the book, it is 10 metres long!!! When closed the measurements are 28.5 x 14 x 11 cm. Weight is over 2.2 kg. I bought the book in Jakarta around 1975. Registered and insured shipping with PostNL. During the auction it is on display in Little-Buddha in Antwerp, also on Sundays.