Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-09-30

The Men Monkeys of MalRccu.
A correspondent ofthe Boston Traveller writes
from Shanghai an interesting account of the
inhabitants Of the Jakoons, barbarous people
who inhabit the interior ofMalaeca Their Lam
guage aud features arc unlike those of the
Malays proper, ol whom they are also politically
independent. They have no history, having been
found by the early Portuguese voyagors in the
country in which they atil reside. They are
called the orang-Bennar, OF "men of the great
country the 0rang Ubi, or "men of the high
rivers" the 0rang- -Hutaug, or ''men of the for
ests;" the Orang Semang, or "black men," the
Jakoons and the Kaiats. Oran is the Malay
word for man. and Utan or. .Hutang for forest,
whence the word SO common with us, DURAN.
outang, or wild men, if men they may be called,
when common opinion has assigned them
rauk hardly above monkeys and balloons.
They generally live in houses built of bamboo
sticks, anl suspended TO the tops of lofty trees.
to which they ascend by rude ladders These
cabins, suspended to tue tree tops, are so mar,
row that stranger cannot be admitted without
annoyance TO a member Of the family, or his cx-
clusion: for one must 60 down when new one
comes up. Others who have no taste for theie
aerial abodes-nsSts, not for birds, but for men
construct huls 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
always kept brightly burning in order Tighten
away the tigers and other wild beasts which fill
the forests. In the second story they put their
arms for safety, their provisions and kitchen
utpnaiia all Of tvhirh in,
earthern pots, and one or two great China
bowls.
They cat whatever comes to hand as wild
hoars, apes and birds, which last are taken
either in snares or shot by arrows, and the roots
and tubers which the earth produces in abund
ance. II they plant rice, it is only enough TO
meet their absolute wants. Instead of regular
labor, they prefer the fatiguing adventures of
the chase, and running among the woods
Their cuisine is of the lowest order, their favor.
ite dish being slices of meat half cooked, and
still reoking with blood.
Their weddings are preceded by most sin
gular and ludicrous ceremony. An old man
presents the future husband and wife to a large
assemblage of invited guests, whom he co..
durts followed by their respective families, in,
to 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. fhe succ eds 10 overtalI-
ing her she becomes his wife; ii not he fOrfeits
all his rights, and cloves labor is lost" This
often happens whsnth the bridegroom fails of pleas
ing the young lady, who endeavors to sscape
from the embraces of ,istasteiul OF odious
husband by beating him in this queer trotting
match
Upon the death of ono of their number they
wrap HE body in white winding sheet, and
then deposit it in grave dug near his hut,
sometimes in an erect position, sometimes sit.
ting, and sometimes lying down. They are
careful to put a lance at bis side, "parang,"
and "sumpitan,' their instruments of hunting
and of war, but never use any religious cere-
mony. Still, these weapons placed by the side
of the corpse indicate a shadOwy belief in
future existence
Their religion is a confused mass of the gross.
est superstitions, prOpagated by the payans,
kind Of priests, who are half physicians and
half jugglers. Their magical science IS in great
esteem with the Malays The singular kind of
life they lead, the popularity of their costume
and tho long intervals Of their appearance
among the people. secure for them certain
prestige and respect. Seen from atar, and
through mysterious veil they pass for beings
endowed with superhuman power, to whom the
plants and roots Of the forests have revealed
| butlI llObJ huClot NiItuhb' III "otui tney are
believed to hold in their hands the power ofcon-
ferring health or nficting death In accord
ance wi h this belief, the Malays are careful
not to provoke their il-will.
Naturally, the Jakoons are Of an open and in
genuous disposition, and withal inclined 10
gaiety To the appearance Of timidity they
join the Independence of life without control,
spent in the midst of thick forests and everast-
ing verduro. Respectful without being seryilo,
in conversation they use an abrupt and violent
tone Of voice, which strongly contrasts with
their habitual gentleness and modesiy. They
love strong liquors and get intoxicated whenever
they have an opportunity,
IL is honorable TO the zeal Of the Catholic
| priests, that they have a missionary, who not
withstanding the low rank of these people in
the scale of humanity, the wide territory over
which they are scattered, and the thick forests
which it is necessary to penetrate TO reach them,
aud the absence Of all roads, while feroeious
wild beasts are thick at every step is laboring
among them and makes his home with them.
Such are the people in whom originated the
idea and the stories about the OHrQli outany-
"the man Of the forests"