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Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

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28 <strong>Journal</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> F.M.S. Museums. [Vol. VII,<br />

<strong>the</strong> work. Similarly during <strong>the</strong> first three days <strong>of</strong> felling <strong>the</strong><br />

big trees nobody may touch an adze belonging to ano<strong>the</strong>r num.<br />

At <strong>the</strong> time <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> reaping <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> padi crop <strong>the</strong> settlement<br />

is laid under certain tabus for a period <strong>of</strong> six days. During<br />

this period cigarettes may not be smoked nor blow-pipes and<br />

lish be brought into <strong>the</strong> houses. Tabu signs <strong>of</strong> palm leaves are<br />

hung up as a warning to outsiders not to visit <strong>the</strong> clearing.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> first day <strong>of</strong> reaping seven ears <strong>of</strong> padi, <strong>the</strong> rice-soul,<br />

are tied up, and incense burnt to <strong>the</strong>m. These seven ears are<br />

left till reaping is finished, and round <strong>the</strong>m sufficient padi to<br />

fill two or three reaping baskets, this being <strong>the</strong> rice-soul's<br />

companion. The rice-soul is finally reaped, and incense is<br />

burnt under <strong>the</strong> place where it is hung up for six days. After<br />

this <strong>the</strong> grain from <strong>the</strong> rice-soul and its companion are taken<br />

and mixed with <strong>the</strong> seed padi.<br />

Si Busu also gave me a little information with regard to<br />

customs connected with child-birth. It appears that after a<br />

bii th <strong>the</strong> navel cord is buried under <strong>the</strong> house. Should <strong>the</strong><br />

child fall ill and its body appear swollen, <strong>the</strong> cord is dug up<br />

and inspected to see whe<strong>the</strong>r white or o<strong>the</strong>r ants are eating it.<br />

Should this be <strong>the</strong> case, <strong>the</strong> ants are killed with hot water and<br />

<strong>the</strong> cord is re-buried in ano<strong>the</strong>r spot. If no ants are found,<br />

<strong>the</strong> cord is again interred in <strong>the</strong> same place.<br />

After a woman has been delivered, spells are said over her,<br />

and when this has been done, she is allowed to eat every kind<br />

<strong>of</strong> food with <strong>the</strong> exception <strong>of</strong> chilies, which are forbidden to<br />

her for six days.<br />

I was told that articles <strong>of</strong> property, not necessarily belonging<br />

to <strong>the</strong> deceased, and food are placed on a newly made<br />

grave, and that a fire is kindled, morning and evening, at <strong>the</strong><br />

spot for <strong>the</strong> first six days after burial.<br />

Contact with <strong>Malay</strong>s and Chinese has tended to destroy<br />

<strong>the</strong> customs and beliefs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sakai living within easy reach<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> settlements <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se races. Consequently <strong>the</strong> Sakai<br />

around " Kampong Ulu Pipe " seem to have lost most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

distinctive customs, and <strong>the</strong> same is true in a less degree <strong>of</strong><br />

those living above <strong>the</strong> dam. I ga<strong>the</strong>red that some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

customs described above are obsolete or obsolescent among <strong>the</strong><br />

people that I visited, though <strong>the</strong>y probably remain in full<br />

force among <strong>the</strong> wilder aborigines in <strong>the</strong> headwaters <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Kampar River.<br />

ABORIGINES OF THE PAHANG BOUNDARY.<br />

Apart from <strong>the</strong> fact that aborigines <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> foot-hills have<br />

little intercourse with <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> main range and are<br />

<strong>the</strong>refore ignorant <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whereabouts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir settlements, my<br />

visit to <strong>the</strong> Kampar district was very ill-timed with regard to<br />

getting coolies for an expedition to <strong>the</strong> mountains, since <strong>the</strong><br />

Sakai were engaged in making clearings for planting <strong>the</strong>ir padi.<br />

Repeated questionings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Malay</strong>s and Sakai gained me but<br />

little information about <strong>the</strong> people <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> mountains, though

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