18 CAVE DWELLERS OF PERAK. 



ductious. These are the Semaiigs, the Sakais and other nearly 

 allied tribes, and the Malays. The former are nearly pure 

 Negritoes, while the Sakais are a mixed race, apparently a 

 cross between the former and the race that has been called 

 Indonesian. 



The Negritoes are probably the true aborigines, as they are 

 met with even now in comparative puriiy, while the Indonesians 

 are only to be traced by their admixture. From this point of 

 view the earliest cave dwellers were, therefore, most likely Negri- 

 toes. Looked at from the other aspect the habits of the 

 modern wild tribes are so similar to those of the people under 

 consideration that if they were to be deprived of the iron tools 

 that they now obtain from the Malays they would be to all 

 intents and purposes in the same jjosition as the ancient cave 

 men. Probably at a subsequent date the mixed race also 

 occupied the caves in some parts of the country. The habit 

 in all likelihood continued until the introduction of tools, by 

 the Malay or some other race in an equally advanced state, en- 

 abled them to fell the jungle and build houses for themselves. 



