The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-12-23
QUEER PEOPLE.
A Ras0 CT Barbarians Who Inhahtt
the JunQleA ~ S1ana

Inc 1OuOWinS IS TAKEN from IetCef
written at Bangkok. Siam. by Col.
Childs. and published in The Richmond
(Moy Conservator: Among the many
peculiarities of this peculiar sect on is
an almost unknown race Of people, an
account of which feel assured will be
of interest. A few days since the gov
ernor of Sangkia, a province on the
west coast of Siam, who was here to
bring tribute to the king, gave me con-
siderable information in regard to these
people. who live on the coast term'nS
them Ken Pon-jungie people. They
make their home amid the densest por-
ton of the forest, and have but little
communication with the outer world
in fact, they are entirely isolated. The
only persons that they hold Intercourse
with are slaves aud traders who have
penetrated the jungle in search of game
or barter, as it is almost impossible to
penetrate to the villages ON account OF
the density of the vegetation. the dan
gerous beasts and venomous serpents
that infest them. They shun all inter-
course with strangers, have peculiar
dialect of their own, live in small
villages, and are muscular, hardy
race, strictly vegetarians. do not drink
or smoke opium, but have few. ii
any, of the vices of the natives.
are about five feet in height,
and seem to be sunk in the most
abject barbarsm, occupying the lowest
grade of humanity. What little re1ig-
ion they may have IS mongrel wor-
ship of demons and the malignant
spirits that they assert inhabit the jun
gle, which they attempt to prop:tiate 5y
presents, etc. Their habitations arc
partly subterraneous. about four feet
high, an excavation in the ground,
around which stakes arc driven, cover
ed with dome of plated bamboo, over
which is plastercd thick coating of
mud, which soon hardcns in the sun,
rendering it impervious to the rain or
the heavy dews of that section, which
they occupy only when necessity re-
quires, as they live mostly in the open
air, and. WHEN the land is overdowcd,
up in the trees. Their clothing is of the
most primitive kind. A piece of cloth
about one foot wide and four feet in
length. which is held in place by piece
of Llama, or vine. as they have no cord o.
rope, is made into a belt placed around
the waist; then the cloth is inserted be-
tween the legs and carr ed both back
and front up under the belt over which
it laps, and the hand being drawn tight
holds it in place. and rs the ends arc
opened spread out like small aprons.
and thus the denizens of the jungle are
in full dress. somewhat akin to the
Edenic costume of old-the fig leaf.
One of the peculiarities of this strange
people IS the way they raise their rice,
which is their main staple, almost their
sole stock of provisions, eked out with
fruits, roots and herbs, which they col
lect when in season, and the jungle il
prolific of such kind of food. Each vii
]age has its head man. all live in COM
mon, and as soon as field of rice is ready
to be cut he orders it and distributes the
grain equally among his people, and so
ON during the season, all sharing alike.
Their only implements are large knife
used for cutting rice. building their
huts, and making tops and cutting THEN
way through the underground, and d
pair of shears for cutting hair, which
they cut short with the exception of a
tuft on the crown of the head about two
inches in length. which looks like 3
shoebrush standing up Ike bristles
Having no pots, they cook their rice in
bamboo. They cut off a section and
shave it thin, open a hole in one end
put in the rice and water. then, closing
up the end, put in the fire. Green BAN
boo being impervious to the flavor. they
thus have tirst-class pot. Tie same is
used by the S;amese when travelling
through the jungle-and as they cal
with their fingers they need no dishes
meal is over.
When they need cloth. knives. OF
shoes, they barter the products of the
jungle. which are many and varied,
consisting of rhinoccros horns, ele
plant tushes, horns, bones. hides, and
skins, but will not take money, except
in rare cases, having no use for it, no
Q knowing its value. They are exper
y trappers and snare all kinds of game
c elephant, rhinoceros, tigers, leopards
t pumas, deers, and all other denizens O
f the wild woods. for their skins. ant
t some of the finest ivory exported was
J, purchased from these people, but thei
, skins were badly handled, which de
b tracts from their value, being merel,
. dried in the sun after being strippe'
q from the animal.
# When forced to go shod. which is sci
. dom, they improvise sandal, whic
$ they make out of piece of hide, round
r ed in front and behind. with hol
}. where the big toe rests. through whic
Q is inserted piece of bamboo. fastene
i on the bottom with a loop on top
= through which the toe is thrust, an
= thus the sandal is held on the foot
Q They pay no taxes, acknowledge n
Y ruler; their number is unknown. an
% in their emerald fastness, guarded b
malaria As deadly as dynamite, the
e live and die, never having heard tn
story of Jesus. knowing no future, thei
q world and existence being confined t
70 the peninsula of Maiacca.
}. How Millions are Made.
is "What makes millionaire" askes
man.
d Energy" responded one.