The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-06-17

10 primarily to be noted that the Malays them
selves arc not tho aborgines OF this long tongue
Of land. but. according to thor traditions.
migrated hither from tho adjoining island OF
SumAtra. whose upland kingdom Of Menangke-
bau they regard the seat Of their civilization
or the races found inhabttina tho peninsula by
tho earliest Malay colonists. only from 5000 to
IL 900 souls survive. Those aro called by the
Malays "Orang Benua," and sometimes Orapr.
Outang. the name which we apply to the big
ape OF Dorneo. From tho descriptions Of these
wild people given to Mrs. Bishop. Il would
soon that they may be divided into two classes.
the 6amangs or Ncgritos who have curly hair.
Nat noses. thick Inns. and nenriy black skins.
and the Jakuns or Sakei. who approach much
more nearly to the MALAY than the negrlto type.
Tho Jakuns are. however. much shorter in
stature than the Malays. the men In some Of
the tribes rarely exceeding four foot eight
inches In height. and the women four feet four
inches. Their clothing consists OF a waist cloth
made OF bark. and their food is obtained by
hunting or fishing. or from jungle fruits.
Some Of tho Jakuns live in huts OF the
most primitive description. supported on posts.
while others. known as the tree people. build
wigwams on platforms. supported by the fork
ing branches OF trees at q height OF from
twenty to thirty feet. Their weapon IL the
sumpltam. 4 blow-gun from which poisoned
arrows arc expelled. and they are said to have
ingenious methods OF capturing both the ele-
plant and the "recuse rhinooeros" It ap-
pears that they reverence the SUM- but they
have no definite form OF Worship and are be-
lieved to b. destitute OF tho most rudimentary
ideas OF religion. They have no ceremonies nj
BIRTH marriage or death. but they arc monog-
amists and. according to one Of tho few Eng.
lishmen who have had nm opportunity OF oh.
serving them extremely afYectionnte. One OF
their strongest emotions Ia fear and they not
only shun intercourse with mon OF other
races but frequently leave tho gutta and other
objects OF barter which they may have collect
cd at the foot of n tree. not daring To en-
counter the trader. from whom they exuect
some articles In exchange
Tho Mn.ays who we scarcs,v necd 70 sav
inbabit mot only tina MaIov penipsuln but nj.
most all tho const repions of Sumatra and
Borneo must undoubtedly la numh.red among
civilized peop,es Their hair ia invnrinblv
black. straight. and coarse. and their faces as
we'll az their bodies, ara almost hnirless Their
lips arc broad but shapely their chins are we'll
formed their eves ,,tbouyh oh,,uo ara mot
nenrlv 40 sInntinv no +hosa n, tba Chinese
while their hands mr., small and ref,ned Never
thsless. the men nre not hnndsome and the
woman ,r, d,ci,,,dIv ,o,,, rhay oil sna.L
more ar less nur.lv tho M,iav,an, image which
nv thu wnv contains ia NOR cant NJ Snnskrit X
per cant. Of Arnbic and Q nor cant NJ Euronean
word,: thov nil write in the Arabic cbnractor
They are nil NIobammeduns regard IA niIvrim
age to Mecca us IA supreme privilege. and look
to the Koran. ma expounded nv Arab tencl,ors
for the rules O, fnith and practico They live
In houses which nre more or less tasteful md
| secluded. Thoy nre we'll clothed in parments
of both native and foreiyn manufacture: thew
/ are a settled and agricultural people: they ara
| skilful In some of the arts. especially in tho
working OF gold and the THANKSGIVING Of Iyises
| rs their ways-sbaped knives Arc called. II ia
| also to be noted that the Malays have possess
| ed for centuries orrnnizod forms Of povern-
! ment md codes OF law reatinp to land tenures
| and navigation which eyince A considerable
| degree of epIivht.nment. Th.v evan have a
| literature though this il mainly imnort,d from
| Arabin Persia sinm. and lava. from tn. two
| former countri,s mnst NJ tboir r.ligions and
| ethical bools nre borrowed There ia how.
aver one highly nopn,ur Mn,av romance
and on, Mnlav history which treats of
IN. founding of Tn. cmnire of Menanu.
kebau In sumatrn. and comes down to the
creation of tbs Sultanate of Johore and tho