The Washington herald., 1909-07-04
A STRANGE PEOPLE.
Curious Habits of Malay Inha bitants
Only Partly Understood.

Frcm Chamtfrs JrurnaL
Away among the deep forests in the
heart Of the Malay Peninsula there dwell
a singular people whose curious habits
are only partially understood. An Ital-
ian explorer found them so interesting
that ne spent fifteen years IN studying
their habits and customs. and has some
wonderful stories 10 relate about the
SscaL They live m a barbarous state.
| spending most OF their time in gathering
lpoisons from plants. which they prepare
I according 10 secrets known only 20 them
selves. for protection against their ene-
mics and for bringing down their quarry
IN the chase.
So accustomed are the Sacai 10 the life
I q the woods that the few who have
been al various times induced 10 go down
I 20 the coast have almost invariably re-
turned TO their native wilds on the first
/ favorable occasion. There they hunt
game and birds and gather the fruits
on which they subsist Though life has
\ It's dangers. II has also rs compensations.
/ Nature IS particularly rich IN her bounty
An abundance OF berries and fcodstuffs
/ IS found on the bushes ard giant trees.
/ among which ly birds of rare and gor-
\ geous plumage But what proves mos,
/ attractive 20 the natives IS the great va
\ slety OF poisonous plants They speak
\ about the different poiscns as famiiiarly
I and as often as We speak about the
I weather. and the discovery OF a new kind
or combination IS hailed as an event OF
/ the greatest Importance The reason for
/ this IS because the poison Is used IN Kill
ing game and catching fish. and for the
]
/ various concoctions being mixed accord
Ing to the resisting power q the object
for which they are intended. Thus. Tor
/ instance. the hunter would never think
Of wasting a strong poison on a small
animal he considered unworthy of such
/ an honorable distinction Besides. he must
, study 20 bring down such game as he
afterward uses for food with polsonl
which viii in no way affect him.
Poisous are not difficult 20 find Grow
ing among the rank grasses and on the
trunks Of trees. and mingling with creep
ing flowers, are so many poisonous plants
that the traveller must be constantly o.
the lookout 20 avoid them. Some are 81
deadly that even the odor arising from
them Is overpowerlng, causing serious ILL.,
ness. others cause skin diseases and pain
fll sweliings Of the body = their leaves
chance 20 touch ever so lightly the hands
or other exposed parts For this reasOI
the orchid hunter cannot be too careful
since Il Is usually where these dreaded
plants flourish most sbundantly that ths
suuring white, RED. purple. blue, and
many colored orchids are found 20 thriv,
most luxuriantly.
IN spite OF his extraordinary passion
for coueocting poisOns, the Sacai IS Z
thoroug5 gentleman IN the chase and
49, - - L. 20
hearted fellow, having none OF the bar
barous methods OF other inhabitants o
the Malay Peninsula. whose creates
pleasure is TO torture a fallen foe Whel
he poisons an arrow his object is 20 caus
death as quickly and IS painlessly a.
possible. For this reason the Malays re
spect and fear him. and tell narrowing
stories about his conduct IN the constan
skirulshes between these two irrecOncil
able peoples. Yet 20 the credit OF II
Sacai be 70 said that he scorns 70 sen'
his poisoned arrow after a flying foe.
He seems 20 be particularly happy Il
his domestic s1sirs. Husband and wifi
live happily together, and quarreling o.
in treatment Is practically unknown
among them. In the event OF a mother
ir-!aw upseJting the peace OF the hom
{ by interfering with its arrangements. n
: voun- couple adopt the wiss plan OF pull
/ ting down their hut and building a nev
, one at a respectable distance from III
cause Of disturbance. The children shO7
much love anc respect for their parents
, who allow them unlimited freedom Z
smuse themselves and follow their owl
, pursuits Other admirable traits OF thi
strange people are their care for N
t sick. their readiness TO help their com
rades IN need. and their extraordinaT,
, love for all kinds OF animals.