202 



temples, and the forehefid just above the ej^ebrows. A rather more 

 complicated design was seen on the face of Pachet the head-man of 

 the Ulu Cheka Paugan, (plate xxxviii, figure 2). Several individuals 

 had only a few dots on the sides of the face or on the forehead. All 

 the Pangan questioned were unanimous in saying that the art of 

 tattooing was one which had been known for many generations. 

 With regard to its use they said that it was done merely for 

 decoration, but one man further asserted that it was a good remedy 

 for headache. It is rather curious that the Pangan should have 

 taken to tattooing as tattoo marks do not show up at all clearly on 

 their dark skins, it being necessary in one case to inspect a man's 

 face at very close quarters before it was possible to make out how 

 the pattern was arranged. In no instance was tattooing seen on any 

 of the Sakai of the neighbouring rivers, though it would show up 

 extremely well on their much fairer skins. 



Dark races do not as a rule tattoo, but instead make patterns on 

 their bodies by cutting designs in the flesh and rubbing in earth or 

 mineral substances, raised scars termed keloids resulting from the 

 operation. The Tamils are, however, a notable exception to this rule. 



The Pangan said that the pigment used in tattooing was soot 

 produced by burning damar gum, and one of the Ulu Cheka men also 

 stated that before use it was mixed with a little human milk. The 

 implement at present used in tattooing is the ordinary European- 

 made needle. 



EAR BORING, NOSE PIERCING AND TOOTH FILING. 



All the women and girls who had reached the age of puberty 

 had both ears pierced. The most common objects used as ear-rings 

 were small pearl or bone shirt-buttons obtained from Malay traders, 

 these being worn against the front of the lobe and secured b}' a 

 string passing through the hole. Occasionally a native cigarette 

 was carried in the lobe of. the ear. Ear studs of rolled " Pallas " 

 leaves have been mentioned in a previous section. In no case was 

 piercing of the nose septum observed, although it was said that the 

 wilder Pangan tribes practised this form of mutilation. Tooth 

 filing was stated not to be obligatory, but several men had the six front 

 teeth in the upper jaw rubbed down. 



RELIGION, SUPERSTITIONS AND TABUS, ETC. 



With regard to religion and belief in an after life the writer could 

 obtain nothing but negative information, though it would appear 

 that, apart from the bird-soul theory set forth below, the Pangan 

 must have some idea that the spirits of men live on after death, 

 since the Kuala Cheka people stated that food, water, and the dead 

 person's belongings are placed on the grave. 



With regard to the bird-soul Vaughan Stevens has put on record 

 a good deal of information obtained by him from the Pangan and 

 judging by what the Pangan of Kuala Cheka told the writer his 

 (V. S's) observations would appear to be correct. 



