177 



The floor of the hut was partly occupied by a slight sleeping 

 platfonn consisting of a sheet of split bamboo raised about a foot 

 from the ground on a framework of small tree boughs. The rest of 

 the hut floor with the exception of the hearth, whei'e there was a 

 fire of logs, was bare. Dart quivers and various small articles, such 

 as food stirrers and procupine quills used in mat making, were stored 

 on the under side of the thatch, larger utensils such as cooking pots 

 were ranged along the wall of the hut. Each married couple 

 occupied a single hut vvith a slightly larger sleeping platform than 

 that used by a bachelor. The only other type of dwelling noticed 

 was the simple wind-shelter consisting of a sloping palm leaf thatch 

 resting on a rectangular framework of small branches, the whole 

 being supported in front by two posts about 4^ ft. high with a fork 

 at the top of each to hold the uppermost bar of the frame. 



PHYSICAL CHAKACTERISTICS. 

 The physical appearance of the Ijok people did not seem to differ 

 to anj' extent from that of the Semang of Lenggong. The stomach, 

 specially in children, was often protruberant, though the body 

 generally was but poorly nourished. This may possibly be due to 

 the food, when obtainable, being goi^ged in large quantities. The 

 skins of most of the men and women appeared to be of a dai'k 

 chocolate colour, but this was at least partly due to dirt. One young 

 man, aged about 20 or 21, was very fairly and powerfully built and 

 bad an open and pleasant countenance, which in spite of its rather 

 rounded forehead, low bridged nose and broad nostrils could 

 almost be termed handsome. His skin was also rather lighter 

 than that of the others and his boily by no means unclean. 

 Both men and women age quickly and atrophy of the muscles of the 

 body seems to set in much more quickly than in the average 

 European. The hair of most of the individuals seen had the pepper- 

 corn sti'ucture well developed, and the Semang themselves seem 

 to realize that this is a racial feature, as is shown in the legend 

 of their origin given below. 



PERSONAL CHARACTER. 

 The remarks made in a former paper with regard to the personal 

 character of the aborigines of Lenggong apply equally well to the 

 people of Ijok. They have been anything but impi-oved by constant 

 intercourse with the Malays and Chinese, to whom they are by way 

 of becoming hewers of wood and drawers of water. Their dependant 

 condition has developed in them certain traits which are deplorable. 

 They are the most inveterate beggars and ask without scruple 

 for anj'thing they see or want. They are also said not to be above 

 obtaining advances of goods from either Chinese or Malays on 

 account of rattans, ataps or other jungle produce which they 

 promise to bring in in payment and failing to complete the bargain. 

 In an affair of this kind it is probably a case of the " biter getting 



