Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

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XV. FURTHER NOTES ON AN ABORIGINAL
TRIBE OF PAHANG
Bj Ivor II. N. Evans, b.a.
The following notes on customs, religious beliefs, etc. were
omitted from a former paper of mine in this Journal,* which
dealt with several of the aboriginal tribes of Pahang. They
refer to a tribe, or section of a tribe, of Jakun whose place of
origin is said to be Salang on the Tekam River. Pulau Tawar,
but who, when I met them, were settled on the Tekai River.
Beliefs with Regard to Natural Phenomena.
(i.) According to the Jakun the sun is held by an anteater.
When he rolls his body round it the light is no longer seen and
it is night ; but, when he unrolls himself, the sun shines clearly
and it is day.
(2.) The rainbow is a dragon in the sky.
(3.) An eclipse of the moon portends sickness.
(4.) Thunder is made by a spirit called Ninek,i who makes
a noise in his armpits by banging his arms against his body.
(5.) Ninik makes the lightning by Hashing a thin board
about which is attached to a string (i.e. a bull-roarer).
The Under-World.
The Jakun gave me some details with regard to their
belief in an under-world. I recount them below, just as they
were1 told to me.
There are dragons in the under-world and a single old
woman. She makes her house and her belongings from the
bones of people who have died upon the earth. Their ribs
become the floor of her house, their leg-bones the posts, and
their skulls water-vessels. This woman, when she has reached
the limits of old age, becomes young again. Her name is Arud.
The dragons, who have horns, are her playthings. One of
them is her special pet and sits close to her.
( ustoms and beliefs connected with death and
Burial.
The following details with regard to customs and beliefs
connected with death and burial were givi n me by one of the
men of the settlement,
* Vol. V, pp. 209-211 (1915)
t Nyam as an equivalent for the Malay bantu is a c< mmon word in many
Sakai dialects. Ed.