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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

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