18 Journal of the F.M.S. Museums. [Vo.. IX, 
could not identify, the Ngat-ngok, the Terkul | and the Patutt ; 
by burning lice in the fire; or teasing cats, dogs, or tame 
monkeys. A female being named Gevr-ang-ah is said to watch 
for infraction of these tabus and, on seeing someone commit 
an offence against them, to inform her father, Itaz Malim, 
who punishes the tabu-breakers by sending one of these 
storms of rain, thunder, and lightning accompanied by a sub- 
sidence of the ground, which swallows up their houses. 
he punan beliefs, which I have referred to in several 
previous numbers of this Journal as being found among 
various aboriginal tribes, are also held by the Bera Sakai- 
akun. 
have never yet been able quite to make up my mind 
whether the taking of the rice-soul, among the tribes which 
perform that ceremony, is a truly indigenous custom, or 
whether it has been borrowed from the Malays. 
It must be remembered that the Negritos—the most 
primitive inhabitants of the Peninsula—do not normally plant 
rice, or carry on agricultural operations of any kind, and that 
some of the less civilised Jakun or Sakai-Jakun | tribes of 
Pahang plant only.root-crops (Caladium, etc.). 
The question consequently arises whether the planting 
of hili-rice by the true Sakai and by various mixed tribes is a 
recent innovation 
In this connection it is, perhaps, worthy of note that the 
tendency generally seems to be for such rice as is planted to be 
consumed quickly after harvest, and regard as somewhat of a 
luxury, while the root-crops, and especially caladium, are re- 
garded as the mainstay of life. 
Possibly, however, rice-planting may have been adopted 
from the civilised people who invaded the Peninsula from the 
North long before the advent of the Malays. To quote Pagan 
Races :—“ Mr. Bladgen has shown that there are several 
non-Malay aboriginal names for rice in the Peninsula, and 
this fact, coupled with the existence of varieties of the | grain 
special to the aborigines, and with the generally aboriginal 
character of the harvest-rites argues against such words being 
borrowed from the civilised (Mohammedan) Malays. 
atever may be the truth of the matter, the sities of 
rice-soul is performed by some, though not all, of the aborigi- 
nal tribes 
My ‘ifordinnt told me that, — the Bera people, the 
rice-souls, consisting of seven ears, are cut by the Poyang 
(magician) of the tribe after general ade is finished. He 
carries them to the house in his arms, as if they were children, 
and walk slowly and carefully so as not to disturb them. On 
arrival there, they are placed in a basket and covered with a 
1 Possibly a Trogon. It is said to have red plumage. 
I, p. 340. 
oS pena range a vol. I 
