Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait121878roya).pdf/151

 THE SEMANG AND SAKEI TRIBES OF THE DISTRICTS OF KEDAH AND PERAK BORDERING ON PROVINCE WELLESLEY.

The following interesting particulars relating to the Semang and Sakei Tribes of the little known region lying behind Province Wellesley were recently published in the Field Newspaper (April the 23rd 1878.) It is not difficult to indentify the signature as that of a gentleman lately in charge of the Province Police, who spent some time in the neighbouring jungle.

"The Semang and Sakei, as they are termed by themselves, claim by tradition to be the aborigines of the Malay Peninsula, and to have settled down in their present locality after years of travel in an endeavour to reach the end of the land. The inroads of the Malays have driven them from the borders near the sea to the centre of the country, where still exist the primeæval forests in which they can remain unmolested by their fellow men, whom they fear more than the wild beasts with whom they live."

"The features of the Sakei, or "plains" men, are those of the Negro, and it is a matter for students of the dispersion of races to decide how and from whence come the dark skin, wooly hair, flat noses, and thick lips so prevalent amongst the Sakei of the Malay Peninsula.

"The true Semang, on the other hand, has a complexion of a light copper colour, brown straight hair, and a clear skin.

"The two tribes speak different languages, but follow the same mode of life, and are on amicable terms. The Semangs keep almost entirely to their mountain jungle, while the Sakei occasionally issue from their plain retreats to hold communication with the Malays.

The first occasion in which I had a view of these interesting specimens of humanity was in the year 1864 while on a tour of inspection at the head of the Selama river, a branch of the Krian, which latter was the boundary, prior to the Perak war, between that country and the British possessions near its mouth. On arriving at a Malay kampong close to Gunong Inas, a high peak of the centre mountain range I learnt that there were a number of Sakei in the neighbourhood, and of course at once expressed a wish to see them, and accordingly sent a mutual Malay friend to ask the Chief if he would come to see the orang puteh or white man.