Page:The Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia (IA journalindianar00loga).pdf/384

 planting, and consequently their vegetables consist of the wild fruits of the jungle. This tribe is much more helpless than the Orang Slétar, being entirely dependant on the Malays for their arms and the greater part of their food. The sumpitan is the same as that used by the Dyaks of Sambas in Borneo from whence it is imported to Singapore, and from thence finds its way to Tambrau the river on which they are now located. The arrow of this is delicately fashioned, but the orang Sabimba make a ruder description themselves. The arrows are poisoned with the juice of the Upas tree, and is called ipoh. The tribe, consisting of 80 individuals young and old, are now employed in cutting rattans for the Malays who furnish rice, weapons and utensils in return; they hinted to me that they were a Boolang tribe, but appeared to have no distinct recollection of the period they had been deported from that island. The tribe is separate from all other tribes in the Peninsula, and the territory over which they now roam is unoccupied by others. They are unacquainted with the decoction of inebriating liquors, though they informed me that the tribe formerly possessed the art, their habits are therefore as temperate as the Malays. They do not intermarry with the Malays nor will they part with their offspring for any consideration; towards the Chinese they bear great detestation removing always from their vicinity; this fact may be accounted for by the smallness of their numbers and from the wish to avoid the extirpation of their race. Their Batin or chief is named Bintang, and they owe fealty to the Tomungong of Johore.

They are equally atheistical with the Oráng Slétar, nor are they imbued with any of the superstitions of the Malays; of ghosts and witches they were ignorant, a fact difficult to believe. Of marriage ceremonies I was told they had none;' the preparation of a shed, open on all sides, in size 6 feet by 4, covering a few sticks and leaves strewed on the ground, comprises all the bridegroom's care; the price of a wife was stated to be 10 needles, 3 hanks of thread, 16 cubits of cloth and 3 reals. On any of their tribe being near death they leave this hut until they think all is over; they then remove the corpse on a plank shrouded in its clothes to a grave in which are buried toge-