Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society (IA journalofstrait121878roya).pdf/152

 "The chief, who gloried in the name of Tŭboo, or sugar-cane, was about 5 ft. 3 in. high, of a dark brown complexion, with very flat features,, and grizzly hair which would vie with a negro's in twist.

"His frame was spare to a degree, but hard; his muscles knotted and visible in every portion of his light figure, which still retained the the [sic] elasticity of manhood, notwithstanding his age, which must have been about fifty-five or sixty. His eyes small and piercing, moved about in a restless, suspicious manner, which nothing could prevent, and in this feature the Malays are wont to recognise a wild man.

"I was told that when a man wanted to marry he first of all spoke to the girl, if she agreed, he then went to the father and mother, taking some jungle produce as a gift. The terms of purchase were then arranged—usually a piece of iron, some roots and flowers; and when these were forthcoming a day was fixed for the ceremony, which consisted simply of a feast in the neighbourhood of an ant-hill (where the Malays suppose that spirits reside), after which the couple leave and proceed to some favourable spot for their honey moon, returning at leisure to the tribe. It is a most peculiar feature with these people that the marriage law exists at all; and further, the stringency which attaches to it is astounding. Polygamy is allowed, but is seldom practised; while the punishment for adultery is death—usually carried out by a relative, who invites his victim to a hunting excursion, and, after tiring him out, beats his brains out with a club while he is asleep, and leaves him to rot on the earth denying to his remains the rough sepulture given to those who die in an honourable way, whose remains are laid on a log of wood, in a sitting posture, and buried a foot or two under the ground. ... I made strict enquiries as to their belief, naturally concluding there would exist some idea of a Supreme Being; but, to my surprise these people had no idea of a God; they had no representative caves or sacred spots; nothing was looked upon as supernatural; they did not bother themselves to imagine a cause for thunder or lightning, or sun or moon, or any of the phenomena which one and all give rise in other savages to poetical ideas of dragons, combats, and destroying spirits. The Sakei were born, lived as best they could, died, rotted, and there ended. They build no houses, seldom stop more than two days in one spot, and pursue a thoroughly nomadic life, having no flocks or herds, existing from hand to month, but free and this they prize to a wonderful degree. Nothing will induce a