INH A BITING THK MALAYAN PENINSULA. hi 



this was probably the first cause which 

 gave rise to the many hyperboIicaJ stories 

 whici] have been spread abroad about tlie 

 uuoiber uT the Jakuns; as well as about 

 their niaiuiers and customs. In fact it is 

 very diOicuit to ascertain the true number 

 of the iakuns, because part of them are a 

 nouiade people, so that the same family, 

 the same individuals appear to-day in one 

 place, and next weelc, two or three miles 

 farther; ueit month, they will lemove 

 again, to roam the forest or to come to 

 their first liabiUilion;- so lliat those who 

 perceive them here and there imagine that 

 these are fresh persons, and in their cal- 

 culation thev count two or three times the 

 same. The number of Jakuns reported to 

 nie was always much more considerable 

 than the immher 1 found upon visiting I he 

 places thimisclves. As I liave not visited the 

 entire Peninsula, it is yet dilHcnlt for me lo 

 ascertain tlie amount of these inliajtitanLs 



