The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1863-09-11
The Men Monkeys of Malacca--Their
Mode Of Life, Marriage, Customs etc.

people who inbabit tho interior of Malscca.
Their Language aud features arc unlike those
of tho Malays proper, of whom hcv are also
politically Independent. Thcy have no his.
tory, having boon found by the early Portu.
eucso voyagers in tho country in which they
still reside. Thcy are called tho oranp.
Dennar, or 'men of the great country !"
the Orang Ybi, or "men of tho forests -
tho Orang Semang. or "black men :" the
Jakoons aud tho Kaiats, Oran il tho MALAY
word for man; aud U,an or Hutang,
| for forest, wbonce tho word so com.
mon with us. DURAN outang. or Wild men,
it men they may DO called, when common
opinion has assigned them rank hardly
above monkeys and balloons.
They generally live in houses built of
bamboo sticks, and suspended to the tops
OF lofty trees. to which they ascend by rude
ladders. These cabins. suspended to the
tree tops, are SO narrow that a stranger can
not be admitted without annoyances to o
member of tho family, or his exclusion; for
ono must go down when new ono comes
up. Others who have no taste for these
aerial abodos-ncsts, not for birds, but for
men-construct huts raised two or three
feet above tho ground Tho first story
serves for lodging. where they cut. and
sleep, by tho side Of fro kept brightly
burning in order to frightcn away the tigers
and other wild boasts which fill tho forests
In the second story they put their arms for
safety, their provisions and kitchen utensils
all of which are comprised in pixies, in earth.
orn pots, and Que or two great China bowls
They eat whatever comes to hand, as
wild boars, apes aud birds, which last are
taken either in snares or shot by arrows
and tho roots and tubers which the earth
produces in abundance. II they plant rice,
1t is only enough to meet their absolute
wants. Instead of regular labor. they pro.
for tho fatigning adventures of the chase, aud
running among tho woods. Their cuisine is
of the lowest order, their favorite dish being
slicos of meat halt cooked, and still rceking
with blood.
Their weddings arc preceded BY a most
singular and lud'crous coremony. An old
/ u,an presents the future husband and vito
to large assemblago of invited guests,
whom he conducts. followed by their re-.
spective families, into u grand circle, around
which the young lady. tho bride. sets out
running upon all tours, and the young man.
who is the bridegroom. in the same style af.
tor her. II he succeeds in Overtaking her
he boo mes his wife i: not. he forfeits all
his rights, and cloves labor is lost" This
ofton happens WHOM tho bridegroom fails OF
pleasing the young lady. who endeavOrs TO
escape from the embraces of distas teful or
odious husband,by beatiog him in this queer
trotting match.
Upon the death of ono of their number,
they wrap his body in white winding sheet.
and then deposit it in grave dug near h;s
hut, sometimes in an erect position. somo.
times sitting, and sometimes lying down.
| They are careful to put a lance at his side,
u "parang" and u "sumpitsn." their instru.
monts of hunting, OF war. but never use any
religious ceremony. Still these weapons
placed by tho sido of tho corpse indicate a
shadowy belief 10 future existence.
Their religion is a confused mass of the
grossest superstition, propagated by the
"Payans,' kind of priests. who arc hall
physicians and half jugglors. Tber magi
cal science is in grea; estoom with the Ma
uys. Tho singular kind of life they load,
) tho peculiari,y of their costume, and the
long Intervals OF thoir appearance among
tho people, secure for them a certain pres
tige and respect. Seen from aiar and
through mysterious veil, they pass for
beings endowed with superhun,an power, to
whom tho plants and roots of the forest have
received their most secret virtues. 10 a
word. thoy are believed to hold in their
hands the power of comforting health or in
ficting death. In accordance with this be.
lief, the Maays are careful not to provoke
their il.will.
Naturally the Jakoons are of an open and
5 ingenious disposition. and w;thal inclined
to gaiety. To the appearance Of timidity
they join tho independence of a life without
|, control, spent in the midst of thick forests
and everlasting verdare. Respectful with,
out being servile, in conversation they use
an abrupt and violent tone of voice, which
i strongly contrasts with their habitual gen.
e tIeness and modesty. They love strong
s liquors and got intoxicated whenever they
I have an opportunity.
s 1t is honorable TO the zeal Of the Catho
I lie priests tha, they have missionary, who
outstanding the low rank of these peo
pie in the scale of humanity, the wide ter
=. ritory over which they are scattered, and
. the thick forests which it Is necessary te
= penetrate to roach them. ar! the absence o.
; all roads, while ferocious wild beasts ART
i thick at every step. is laboring among then
8 and makes his home with thom.
s Such are tho people in whom originated
}. the idea and the stories about the ourang
Is outane-"the man of the forests.
! A dispatch from Stevenson. Ala, men
:. tions reports that the rebels are evacuatine
;, Knoxville aud Chattarooga, and removing
everything of military value to Atlanta
"a This report however, needs confirmation.