VOCABULARY OF THE JAKUNS. 31 



custom to-day. This custom is utterly unknown to the northern 

 Sakais who appear to dread the operation, so much so that many 

 Pahang Sakais have told me that but for this one operation, 

 they would have embraced the Mohammedan faith. Another 

 reason why a Sakai will not become a Mohammedan is that he 

 will be obliged to eschew such delicacies as he from time to time 

 picks up in the jungle, in particular the bamboo rat {Uhizoneys) 

 which is to him the most toothsome and delicate of foods ! 



These Batu Pahat Jakuns told me that in days of old, they 

 possessed a very extensive vocabulary of their own. All that 

 now remains of this once extensive vocabulary are a few words, 

 which they still use interspersed with Malay and which are 

 transcribed below. Even these few remaining words, the 

 rising generation of Jakuns do not appear inclined to use, so 

 that in a short time, their once extensive language will be a 

 thing of the past. I should add that a great number of these 

 words have appeared in one of the earlier issues of the Journal 

 collected by Lieut. Kelsall, R. E., from the Endau Jakuns, while 

 a few seem peculiar to the Batu Pahat people. 



List of Jakun Words at present in use among the 

 Jakuns of Batu Pahat. 



Now, klak. 



Day after to morrow, duak'. 



Morning, lorn. ("Lorn" in Siamese means air.) 



Thunder, pateh. ("Pateh" is "Slave" in Malay.) 



Lightning, gintal. 



Tiger, jerokee. 



You, atok, hee. (Heh is Sakai for you.) 



Boy, kolop. (In Perak "kulup" also means boy among 

 Malays, while in Pahang, the same word 

 means, among Pahang Malays, male organ 

 of generation.) 



Grid, dai-ying (Siamese for woman is Pu ying) 



Father, bai. 



Aunt, amai. 



Uncle, wfih. 



Unmarried man, penganting. 

 „ girl, dai-ang. 



R. A. Soc, No. 38. 1902. 



