Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
Journal of the Federated Malay States museums - Sabrizain.org
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1916.] I. H. N. Evans: Sakai <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Korbu River. 83<br />
sort. Food is placed at <strong>the</strong> grave, and a fire is lit <strong>the</strong>re for<br />
seven consecutive mornings. The belongings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> deceased<br />
arc placed ei<strong>the</strong>r in or on <strong>the</strong> grave, and are purposely damaged<br />
(probably in order to set free <strong>the</strong> souls <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> articles for<br />
<strong>the</strong> dead man's use) before so disposing <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m; a blow-pipe<br />
for instance being broken in <strong>the</strong> middle, and a dart-quiver<br />
split down one side. I asked L'dah for an explanation <strong>of</strong> this<br />
custom, and he replied, that if <strong>the</strong>y put an adze in good<br />
condition on <strong>the</strong> grave, it would look bent or crooked to <strong>the</strong><br />
ghost <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> dead man, but if <strong>the</strong>y put one that was bent or<br />
broken <strong>the</strong>re, it appeared straight to <strong>the</strong> spirit.<br />
A death necessitates <strong>the</strong> desertion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> settlement, but<br />
<strong>the</strong> Sakai are not afraid to return to <strong>the</strong> clearing in <strong>the</strong> daytime<br />
to get <strong>the</strong> produce <strong>of</strong> any crops which may be growing<br />
<strong>the</strong>re.<br />
Vocabularies.<br />
I give below a vocabulary obtained from a Sakai <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
Ulu Kinta; and with it, for purposes <strong>of</strong> comparison, ano<strong>the</strong>r<br />
taken by myself in 1915 from a " Hill Sakai" <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Temengoh<br />
District. With regard to <strong>the</strong> Kinta vocabulary, it is ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />
curious that, while I could obtain no word for " animal," <strong>the</strong>re<br />
is one, tata, which is used <strong>of</strong> large animals only. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore,<br />
two <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> animals to which this word is applied have names<br />
which denote <strong>the</strong>ir peculiarities. Thus <strong>the</strong> Sambhur is called<br />
Tata-jeruk, jeruk meaning "long" or "far," from <strong>the</strong> fact that<br />
it has long legs, while <strong>the</strong> Bear, which <strong>the</strong> Sakai tell me is<br />
very fond <strong>of</strong> tepus fruits, is named Ta'Pus or Ta'apus, a contraction<br />
for Tafa'tepus. There is, I find, on comparing <strong>the</strong> two<br />
vocabularies, some confusion in <strong>the</strong> terms employed for denoting<br />
various relationships. For instance, <strong>the</strong> words given to<br />
me by <strong>the</strong> Ulu Kinta Sakai for "husband" and "wife" were<br />
toulf and leh, while in <strong>the</strong> Ulu Temengoh vocabulary <strong>the</strong><br />
order is reversed. I have entirely omitted several relationship<br />
terms, in which <strong>the</strong>re seem to be inconsistencies. Sen-oi<br />
is <strong>the</strong> word used by <strong>the</strong> Kinta aborigines to denote men in<br />
general (homines) and <strong>the</strong>y gave me <strong>the</strong> following examples<br />
<strong>of</strong> its use :<br />
—<br />
Sen-oi Gop, A <strong>Malay</strong>.<br />
Sen-oi Begyek, An European.<br />
Sen-oi Beg, A Sakai.<br />
English. Malty. Sakai U. Kinta. ^rlmengo),)<br />
Head ... Kepala ... Kuie ... Koie<br />
Ear ... Telinga ... Gentok ... Gentog<br />
Eye ... Mata ... Mat ... Mat<br />
Nose ... Hidong ... Muhr ... Muh<br />
Nostril ... Lubang hid- Lubang muhr Umok muh<br />
ong.<br />
• In <strong>the</strong> comparative vocabulary " Pagan Races" ton is given as a word for<br />
"Male" obtained from a Tanjong Rambutan Sakai.<br />
December, 1916. 7