JELEBU CUSTOMARY SONGS AND SAYINGS. 



The jungle chiefs mark off the tree trunks; 

 The Waris drag the cord of survey; 

 The ruler of the shire, the Undang, 

 Settles payment for the portion; 

 The tribal headman hammers landmarks. 



Xext we see the jungle custom 

 Yield to custom of the hamlet: — 

 Holding dovetailed into holding, 

 Split in lots the ricegrown meadows, 

 Short-runged ladders fixed to houses, 

 Booms with voice of men resounding*. 



So the men wax strong in number, 

 And the lands they till grow wider, 

 And the custom of the hamlet 

 Groweth to a broader custom, 

 Stablished custom with set sayings. 

 The grown hath lordship of the little, 

 O'er the grown the old have lordship. 



Hark ye then ! how say the old men ? 

 '' The king within his kingdom reigneth, 

 The chief within his shire commandeth, 

 The headman o'er his tribe presideth. 

 Each shall get his share and portion; 

 Take ye not the goods of others ; 

 Squander not the children's birthright." 



So we gathered close together, 

 Homestead clustering on homestead, 

 Neighbour marrying with neighbour, 

 Visiting in time of sickness; 

 Used one shelter for ablutions, 

 From one well drew bathing water; 

 For our pastimes used one common ; 

 Level was our land, our water 

 Clear, and in our village councils 

 Trusted each his neighbour's promise. 



III. 



Origin of origins ! 



Desert we not our origin : — 



Rain hath its fount, tradition its foundation, 



Sickness hath its beginning, death its cause: 



R. A. Soc, No. 78. 



