NOTES ON THE ABORIGINAL INHABITANTS OF IJOK 
IN THE DISTRICT OF SELAMA, PERAK. 
By IVOR H. N. EVANS, B.a., Assistant F.M.S. Museums. 
(Pratt XVI). 
pee 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 
people 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 aborigines 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 from 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). 
Hach hut consisted of an arch-shaped framework of bent saplings with 
cross pieces connecting them horizontally. This structure was 
covered with a thatch of tepus 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. 
+The Ijok people, however, until very recently represented 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. 
