Zoological Names and Theories of the Malays. 455 



them as facts. The grain of truth to be found in each may 

 be very slight indeed, or it may be considerable in extent 

 but of obscure outline. Some zoological beliefs of the 

 Malays, however, appear, from whatever standpoint they 

 may be considered, whatever allowance for the lack of 

 critical insight in their originators may be made, to be 

 utterly opposed to common-sense. 



In the case of several large pythons which I dissected in 

 the Siamese Malay States, numbers of hard, bean-shaped 

 bodies of a livid purple colour were scattered all over the 

 body in the connective-tissue immediately under the skin. 

 They were not parasites, but were evidently of a patho- 

 logical nature ; in a few instances open sores were formed 

 directly over them. They were most numerous in a python 

 of no great length — less than thirteen feet — which was 

 infested to an almost incredible extent by animal parasites ; 

 its intestine was pierced by large nematodes in bunches, its 

 alimentary canal contained numerous tape-worms, its lungs 

 were infected by Linguatulids, and its skin, which tore like 

 paper, with two different kinds of ticks. I have only made 

 the most superficial microscopical examination of these struc- 

 tures ; but possibly they are due to a form of tuberculosis, to 

 which it is said that pythons are liable. The Malays whom 

 I questioned about them called them Gagah Ular, the 

 " Strength of the Snake," and said that they were centres 

 from which the constricting power of the python radiated 

 forth. Probably many pythons existed without them, for, 

 just as there were weak men, so there were weak pythons ; 

 but no snake which lacked them could possibly be strong. 

 They were not thought to be the seat of the reptile's life, as 

 that is believed to rest in the gall-bladder, but merely to act 

 as reserves of power. A Malay-speaking Siamese magician, 

 however, who used to assist me in dissecting snakes — no 

 Malay having been found hardy enough to run the risk of 

 fever, which those who " play with snakes " are believed to 

 incur — called the structures either Gagah Ular, or Hihu 

 Ular. Now hibu is a word which originally meant " adult," 

 but which has gained many secondary meanings, such as 

 " parent," " maker " of a nest or other habitation, " primeval 



