NOTES ON THE ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF IJOK 

 IN THE DISTRICT OF SELAMA, PERAK. 



By IVOR H. N. EVAXS, b.a., Assistant F.M.S. Museums. 

 (Plate XVI). 

 npHE following notes on the aborigines of Ijok in the Selama * 

 District were made during the months of April and May, 1913. 

 Perhaps one of the most noteworthy facts with regard to these 

 peojDle is that although they are in close contact and intercourse 

 with the aborigines of Lenggong, Sumpitan, and Kuala Kenering — 

 Sumpitan being only some eleven miles distant from Ijok — they 

 nevertheless speak a somewhat different dialect the speech of 

 the Lenggong people belonging to the group of dialects generally 

 termed Northern Sakai, while that of the aborigines of Ijok is 

 classed as Semang, (Western Negrito). Both tribes, however, are 

 similar in physical appearance and are undoubtedly of Negrito 

 origin,t though it is possible that there may be a slight strain of 

 Sakai blood among them. Inter-marriage between members of the 

 two divisions appears to be now common. The Ijok people said that, 

 though having but little intercourse with either, they were related 

 in speech to the aboi-igines of both Selama and Kupang, the latter 

 presumably the river of that name not far from the Kedah boundary : 

 in this they are probably correct, as the Negritos of Kedah all speak 

 dialects belonging to the Semang group, as do those of Selama 

 itself. 



The Ijok Semang showed no fear of the writer and, if not sent 

 for after a few days, used to come in to ask if they were not wanted ; 

 of course with the idea of obtaining food and presents. They seemed 

 to be truthful in their replies to questions though all information 

 obtained was checked as far as possible by questioning three or more 

 individuals. 



HABITATIONS. 



The Semang settlement was situated near the Chinese mine at 

 Klian Gunong, about four miles fi-om Ijok. The majority of the huts 

 were of the same type as those seen on a former visit to Lenggong 

 {see Journ. Fed. Malay States Mus., p. 64, No. 2, Vol. V ; 1914). 

 Each hut consisted of an arch-shaped framework of bent saplings with 

 cross pieces connecting them horizontally. This structure was 

 covered with a thatch of tepiis leaves, and one end of the arch was 

 usually stopped with a mat of palm leaves on a slight framework of 

 sticks, the open end being used as a door. 



* Selama village is some 18 miles from Ijok. 



t The Ijok people, however, until very recently rej^resented as pure a strain 

 of Negrito as is to be met with in the Malay Peninsula. The Lenggong people 

 on the other hand have a very much larger admixture of Sakai blood. H.C.R. 



