4 THE PAGAN RACES OF THE MALAY PENINSULA. 



mal really was, but its common name of Muntjac is fairly well 

 known. Here and there in the songs and charms we see words 

 and names of places of quite modern origin, such as Tanjong 

 Pagar, Singapore, Telasih, (the Hindu Tulsi) for the Basil plant 

 known to Malay as Selasih, and this has been commented on 

 by one reviewer as somewhat discrediting the songs, but such 

 innovations in folk song occur in many nations, having drifted in 

 later perhaps than the original song was written. 



A long list of names of people is given, many of which are 

 not translated but among; them are such poetic ones as 

 Blossom, Convolvulus, Earth, Wind, Star, Butterfly, and 

 Father of Leaf for boys, and White, Quick, Mother of Grass, 

 Little One and Handmaid for girls. 



The second volume opens with accounts of customs and 

 beliefs. The Semangs acknowledge two deities, Kari and Pie 

 but there seems to be no cult of these gods who are rather 

 shadowy beings. The Sakais have a similar deity who however 

 was probably of Malay or Arabic origin. There are however 

 numerous demons and spirits, which are feared and have to 

 be kept off by charms, as in all races of the world. The crea- 

 tion legends seem to be mainly original. In Semang and 

 Jakun mythology man multiplied so fast, being immortal, that 

 the earth was overcrowded, and Kari according to the Semangs 

 slew them with his fiery breath, while according to the Jakuns, 

 Tuan dibawah their deity turned half of them into trees. But 

 this check on the population being insufficient death was institut- 

 ed as a relief. The Jakuns appear to have anticipated the 

 discovery of evolution in ascribing the origin of mankind to a 

 pair of white apes, which is curious, especially in view of the 

 fact that the ape specified, the wawa (Hylobates) is generally 

 considered the most nearly related to man of any of the apes. 

 The charms, ceremonies, traditional sales, dances, and such sub- 

 jects are fully dealt with, and the last part of the book deals 

 with the language, the special task of Mr. Blagden, than whom 

 it Avould be difficult to find a better authority. A vocabulary of 

 the dialects is given at the end. 



The amount of research which this work must have 

 entailed has been extremely large, and the authors have spared 



Jour. Straits Branch 



