The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1859-11-09
THE MEN MONKEYS OF MALAGA
THEIR NODE OF LIFE, MARRIAGE
CUSTOMS, ETC.

A correspondent of the Boston Traveller
writes from Shanghai an interesting account OF
the habits of the Jakoons, a barbarous people
who inhabit the interior of Malacca. Their
language and features are unlike those of the
Maluys proper, of whom they are also politi-
cally independent. They have no history, hav-
ing been found by the carly Portuguese voy-
ayers in the country in which they still reside.
They are called the Ourang-Bennar, or 'men
of the great country" the OuIang-Ybi. or "men
of the forests" the OuranS-Semang, or "black
men," the Jokoons and. he Caiats Ourang is
the Malay word for man; and Titan or Hunting.
for forest, whence the word so common with
us, ourang-outang, or wild men, if men they may
be called, when common opinion Las assigned
them arAnk harll above monkeys and balloons.
They generally live in houses suilt of bam
boo sticks. and suspended to the tops of lofty
trees, to which they ascend by rude ladders
These cabins, suspended to the trec-tops, are
b narrow that a stranger cannot be admitted
without annoyance to Il member of the family,
or his excl lsion-for one must go Town when
a new one comes up. Others who have no
taste for these aerial abodes-nests not Hor birds,
but for men-construct. huts raised two or
three feet above the ground. The first story
serves for lodging, where they eat, and sleep
by the side of a fire kept brightly burning in
order to frighten away the tigers and ether
wild beasts which fill the forests. In the Sec
ond story they put their arms for safety, their
provisions and kitchen utensils, all of which
are comprised in pixies, in earthern pots, and
one or two great China bowls.
They eat whatever comes to hand, as wild
bears, apes and birds, which last are taken
either in snares or shot by arrows, and the roots
and tuters which the earth produces in abund-
ancc. If they plant rice, it is only enough to
meet their absolute wants. Instead OF regular
labor they prefer the fatigues and adventures Of
the chase, and running among the woods
Their cuisine is of the lowest order, their ia
vorite dish being slices of meat half cooked
and still reeking with blood.
Their weddings are preceded by a most singu-
lar and ludicrous ceremony. An old man pre-
sents the future husband and wife to a large as
semblage of invited guests, whom he conducts,
followed by their respective families, into a
grand circle, around which the young lady,
the bride, sets out running upon all tours, and
the young man, who is the bridegroom, in the
same style after her. If he succeeds in over
taking her she becomes his wife; if not he for
feits all his rights, and cloves labor is lost
This often happens when the bridegroom fails
of pleasing the young lady, who endeavors to
escape from the embraces of a distasteful or
odious husband by beating him in this queer
trotting match.
Upon the death of one of their number,
they wrap his body in a white winding sheet,
and then deposit it in a grave dug near his hut,
sometimes in an erect position, sometimes sit
ting, and sometimes lying down. They are
carefcl to put a lance at his side, a "parang''
and n Nsumpitan," their in. Of hunt
ing and war, but never Ese any religious .cere-
mony. Still these weapons placed by the side
of the corpse indicate a shadowy belief in a
future existence.
Their religion is a confused mass of the gross
est superstition, propagatcd by the "Payans,"
a kind of Priests. who are half physicians and
half j~ugglers. Their magical science is in
great esteem with the Malays. The singular
kind of life they lead, the popularity of their
costume, and the long intervals of their APP
pearance among the people, secure for them
a certain prestige and respect. Seen from
afar and through a mysterious veil, they pass
for beings endowed with superhuman power,
to whom the plants and roots of the forest have
received their most secret virtues. In a word,
they are believed to hold in their hands the
power of confering health or inficting death.
In accordance with this belief. the Malays are
careful not to provoke their ill-will.
Naturally the Jakoons are of an oren and
ingenious disposition, and withal inclined to
ga ETY.. To the appearance of m d e. they 10 n
the independence of a life without control
sp,eut in the midst of thick forests and ever
verdure. Respectful without being
in converse ion they use an abrupt
and violent tone of voice. which strongly con-
.rasts with their habitual gentlsaess and nod