398 REPORT— 1900. 



the method of manufacturing damasked krisses — the details of which were 

 carefully studied. Measurements were also taken of at least ten of the 

 Trengganu Malays, and full observations recorded. 



On leaving Trengganu, we proceeded to Singapore, where a few days 

 were spent, and a visit paid to one of the villages of the ' Orang Laut ' (the 

 old piratical stock of sea- gipsies, who were once the terror of the Straits, 

 and who were found by Sir Stamford Raffles living in their boats round 

 about the island of Singapore, when it was proclaimed a British Colony). 



By the first available steamer we proceeded to Penang, whence Mr. 

 Evans proceeded to Pulau Bidan, an island off the Kedah coast, to collect 

 marine zoological specimens, and Messrs. Yapp and Laidlaw made the 

 ascent of Gunong Inas (a hill, upwards of 5,800 feet high), in Perak, a 

 difficult trip, the successful accomplishment of which reflects credit on 

 Mr. Yapp, who, as the senior member of the staff after Mr. Evans's 

 departure, took charge of the remainder of the pai*ty in my absence. 

 They both brought back with them extensive collections (zoological and 

 botanical). Mr. Evans returned to Penang on Christmas Eve, having 

 used up the remainder of his outfit, and returned to Europe a few days 

 later, having completed his year's work. 



As soon as I was able to go up country, I proceeded to Kedah, 

 and there, after a short excursion up the coast to Satal and Perils, 

 made two expeditions into the Sakei country, near the headwaters of 

 the Muda. Here I had the good fortune to find a tribe of from 

 twenty to thirty individuals living in a long barrack-like shelter of palm- 

 leaves. From them, and from a neighbouring tribe, I obtained much 

 valuable information as to their mannei'S, customs, and language, as well 

 as full measurements of a few individuals, and some probably unique 

 phonographic records of their songs, which are of an extremely simple 

 .nd primitive character. I also, with difficulty, procured the skeleton of 

 an adult male. In all the States visited by me, investigations were made 

 into the leading Malay industries, and much valuable material bearing on 

 this subject was collected. Wherever possible, statistics were obtained 

 showing the extent and nature of the development of trade and the stage 

 of civilisation which had been I'eached by the people. Many of the leading 

 Malay industries, such as that of weaving, are being rapidly modified 

 by the introduction of European methods and appliances, and it is now 

 the rarest and most difficult thing to obtain cloth actually made of home- 

 spun thread, the use of Singapore silk and aniline dyes being already 

 almost everywhere the fashion. 



In addition to the above, the departments of ethnology studied 

 included religious and medical ceremonies, children's games, legends, 

 languages and dialects, under each of which headings a mass of material 

 was collected. 



The Zoology of the Sandwich Islands. — Tenth Report of the Committee, 

 consisting of Professor Newton {Chairman), Dr. W. T. Blan- 

 FORD, Professor S. J. HicKSON, Mr. F. Du Cane Godman, Mr. 

 P. L. ScLATER, Mr. E. A. Smith, and Mr. D. Sharp (Secretary). 



This Committee was appointed in 1890, and has been annually re- 

 appointed. 



