Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org

X. NOTES ON THE SAKAJ OF THE KORBU
RIVER AND OF THE ULU KINTA.
By Ivor H. N. Evans, B.A., Assistant Curator and Ethno-
graphical Assistant, F.M.S. Museums.
In February 1916, I started from Sungei Siput cm an
expedition to the Korbu River (or Kerbau), intending, ii
everything was favourable, to pass from its headwaters to the
Kinta River, and to return, via the Kinta Valley, to Tanjong
Rambutan.
Sakai coolies were unobtainable; so not wishing to take
Malays, even if I could get them, as they always welcome every
opportunity of plundering the Sakai, I finally hired three
elephants, with drivers, to take my baggage to Kuala Larek on
the Korbu. Between Jalong and that place, I hoped to be
able to recruit Sakai coolies, as the Penghulu of Sungei Siput
told me that he thought that I should be able to obtain them.
Turning off the main road at Plang we followed the elephant
track which runs from that place to Jalong. This is much
longer than the bridle-path, a distance of only about ten
miles. We reached Jalong on the second day from Sungei
Siput. passing two Sakai settlements on the first day, one near
the Krodah River, and another between the Krodah (or Kerdah;
and Sungei Siput. I saw one or two men from them and they
seemed very much civilised, but 1 did not visit their houses.
On our arrival at Jalong, where there is a loading stage ti
elephants, we pushed on for about another mile and a lull to 1
Sakai settlement called Simpang, which is situated not far
above Kuala Lengkar. Here I tried to obtain coolies from
Toh Intan, the headman, but he pointed out that, besides
himself, there were only five men in his village at the time, and
that two of these were suffering from ulcers, and were unlit for
work. Questioned about the possibility of getting men at Kuala
Larek, he told me that there were none there except his father
and one youth. He further stated that a great many Sakai had
died in the district recently. In spite of this. I resolved to go
on to Kuala Larek on the morrow to see for myself if what he
told me was true. We therefore started fairly early the next
morning. On the way we passed two Sakai clearings, one
with ripe padi standing in it. the other with felled trees still
lying everywhere. Both these had. so Toh Intan. who came
with us, informed me, been deserted owing to the death of the
head of the house. Arrived at Kuala Larek, I found that Toh
Intan's information was perfectly correct: so there remained
, nothing to do but to return to Sungei Siput. Our first daj on
the way back again, tookus to Simpang, when- we hid rathei an
exciting night, as a herd of wild elephants broke into the Sakai;
padi crops and, after destroying nearly the whole oi them.
were driven off with considerable diffioultv. From Simpnn«
December, 1916. 6