Smyrna times., 1859-10-27
The Hen Monkeys of Mallaca
Their Mode of Life, Marriage, Customs, Sc

Their Mode OF Life, Marriage Customs, &c
A correspondent of the Boston Traveller
writes from Shanghai an interesting acc lunt o
the hab is of the Jakoons, barbarous people
who inhabt the interior of Malacca. Their
language and features are unlike those of the
Maylays proper, of whom they are also polili-
cally independent. They have no history, hav-
ing been found by the early Portuguese voya-
gers in the country in which they still reside.
They are called the OraDg- Benner, or men OF
the great country; the "Orang Ub, or men
of the high rivers;" the Ourang- -Hutang, or
"men of the forest;" 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, ang-outang, or wild men, if men
they may be called, when common opinion has
assigned them a rank hardly above monkeys
| and baboons.
They generally live in houses built of bam-
boo sticks, and suspended to the top of lofty
trees, to which they ascend by rude ladders
These cabins, suspended to the tree tops are so
narrow that a stranger cannot be admitted
without annoyance TO member of the family,
or his exclusion ; for one must 60 down when q
new one comes up. Others. who have no taste
for these @rial abodes-nests, not for 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 fire always kept brightly burning in order
to frighten away the tigers and other wild
beasts which fill the forests. In the second
story they put their arms for safety, their pro.
visions and kitchen utensils, all of which are
comprised in pixies, in ear.hen pots, and one or
two great China bowls.
They eat whatever comes to hand, as wild
boars. apes, or birds, which last are taken
either in snares or shot by arrows, and the roots
and tubers which the earth produces in abun-
dance. 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 ia
vorte dish being slices of meat half cooked,
and still reeking with blood.
Their weddings are preceded by most sim
gular and ludicrous ceremony. An old man
presents the future husband and wife to large
assemblage of invited guests whom he con-
ducts, followed by their respective families, in.
10 a grand circle, around which the young lady,
the bride, sets out running upon all fOurs, and
and the young man, who is the bridegroom, in
the same style after her. If he succeeds in
oVerlaking her che becomes his wife if not he
forfeits all his rights, and loves 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
tro,t:ng 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
careful to put lance al his side, "parang,"
and sumpitsn," their instruments Of hunt
ing and of war, but never use any religious
ceremony. Still, these weapons placed BY the
side OF the corpse indicate shadowy belief in
a future existence.
Their religion is a confused mass of the
grossest superstitions, propagated by the bay
ans. a 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 peculiarly of their
costume, and the long intervals of their appear.
ance among the people. secure for them Ger.
tain 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 revealed
their most secret virtues. In word, they are
believed TO hold in their hands the power o
comforting health or infiicting death. 10 accor'
dance with this belief. the Malsys arc careful
not to provoke their ill will.
Naturally, the Jakoons are of an open ant
ingenious disposition, and withal inclined tc
gaty. To the appearance of timidity they joiI
the independence of q life without contral
spent in the midst of thick forests and everlast
ing verdure. Respectful, without being ser
vile, in conversation they use an abrupt ant
violent tone of voice, which strongly contrast
with their habitual gentleness and modesty.-
They have strong liquors, and get intoxicate
whenever they have al opportunity.
II is honorable to the zeal of the Cathsli
priests that they have a missionary who moi
withstanding the low rank Of these people i
the scale Of humanity, the wide territory owe
which they are scattered, and the thick forest
which it is necessary TO penetrate to reac
them, and the absence of all roads, while fero
cious wild beasts are thick at every step, is Ia
boring among them and makes his home wit
them.
Such are the people in whom originated III
idea and the stories about the ourang -oulGnl
: -" the man ef the forests"