The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-11
THE SIMPLE KUBus.
Harmless Children of the Woods Noted
for Their Great Natural Shyasss.

Harmless Children of the Woods Noted
for Their Great Natural Shyasss.
These queer people, the Kubus, were
FIRST seen. writes spicy English tray-
eler, when pushing my way through
Central Sumatra. along the upper
reaches of the MUS river. The tribe is
small in numbers, they live in the
depths of the forest. and ''are simple,
harmless wildwood children" and are
noted for great natural timidity and
shyness. Their dwellings are very
simple in construction. A low plat
form forms the floor, after which thick
leaved branches waving overhead are
coaxed into shape and interlacing shell
ter, made fast with slender twigs; the
pretty structure is then crowned with
thatch Of banana or palm leaves. In
these bird-like homes the inoffensive
creatures live with comfort, unhappy
only when food is scarce, and gums
and beeswav fail. for on these latter
articles do they mainly depend in their
trade with outsiders.
places "elegancics of color and dra-
perry" abound IA wealth of bud and
bloom for which many a one in cultured
lands would willingly pay any price;
the poor Kubus value them simply as
shelter, or perchance as of account in
seasons of barter Among the giants
of the forest towering in majesty above
these simple nest-like homes are mt
meg trees OF fabulous height, with ex,
quisite drop like fruits, OAKS mass of
white inh)rescence. others crowned
with wealth of pink and scarlet flow.
ers. intermiugled with the dark -foliaged
fig and slender, graceful bamboo
Beyond this aggregation OF delight
for tn eye, one notes that every life
less branch and ancient trunk is fes-
TONED to its EXTREMIST point with
climbers and pendant vines, gay in
yellow and purple blooms. and birds of
richest plumage ceaselessly wing their
way to wondrous heights. pouring out
floods of song.
At certain seasons Malay traders APP
proach these forest sett,e nts, in
dicating their presence by striking %
gong at points set apart for rendez-
vous and depost t; the Kubus now bring
their gathered treasures spices, resins,
gums and waX-and placing them at
tractively in position, retire 10 some
secluded corner, beat gong, and
await the second signal from the timer
ant dealer. who in turn Immediately
draws near, notes with keen vision the
wares on exhibition, calculates their
worth, laws beside them what he deems
IL, Al, -,
spears and baubes- things dear to the
hearts of Kubu men and women-then
quietly slips out of sight, and again
there comes shrill gong echo. Again
the Kubus sally out, keenly examine
the goods offered in exchange; if all is
satisfactory, take them up, 90 again to
their hiding places, and again teuch
gong, leaving tie fled clear for the
trader, who speedily departs with his
new treasures.
Years ago the Dutch Government
partially succeeded n inducing some of
the most capable of these Kabus to
learn some of the simplest arts of
agriculture, to see. if such touches of
civilization would not improve and in a
measure educate them to q broader
life. Since that time an Improvement
has been noted in their manner of dress
The introduction of gay caicoes greatly
pleased these simple people, and there
was less use among them of home made
garments made from tender banks and
leaves, and rude sort of mating made
by pounding tough fibers. Still, their
progress has been painfully slow;
They retain love of ease and unclean-,
illness, and have made no changes i'm
their customary b II Of fare, in which
snakes and lizards are looked upon rs
rare tidbits.
The Kubus have thin lips and rest
less, ever-glancing eyes; in height they
resemble Malays. Their language is
an odd jangle of sounds, learned from
occasional and always forced inter
course with neighboring tribes, and, as
one writer tells us, seems much like
the joining of syllables never meant to
be put together, with infections and
accent peculiarly their own.
They have great dexterlty in the use
of spears, and are fair marksmen,
singing with small stones. They seem
10 have no idea of state after death,
and say when we are dead we are
dead Some idea of govern nent pre-
va Is, for there "are elders among
them, who settle disputes and impose
Oh