26 
PAPERS ON MALAY SUBJECTS. 
Penghnhi Balai, Tlie former dwell in low lean-to 
shelters ; the latter (in the interior at least) live in lofty 
tree-hnts. The former are extremely superstitious ; the 
latter are careless and sceptical in matters of belief. 
The former live on the mountains ; the latter live mostly 
by the sea and find the hills a barrier instead of a home. 
The former have a most complicated grammar; the 
latter have one of extreme simplicity. The former have 
no poetry; the latter have much. The cultures of the 
two are distinct and the physical characteristics are also 
distinct, though the mixed blood of the Besisi makes it 
difficult to describe a Besisi " type.** On the other hand, 
the Besisi approximate to the Jakuu. The Jakun have 
the same elaborate official hierarchy with the same 
titles ; they are a coast peoi)le ; and they share the same 
connection with the sea. Moreover, they may be 
classified with the Besisi on gi^ounds connected with 
their numeral systems : the Semang have one sy.stem 
(1, 7ta{; 2, hie) ; the Northern and Central Sakai have 
a second (1, narm ; 2j nar; 3, ni); the Besisi and 
Jakun have a third (1, mtri ; 2, ^mbar; 3, 'mpe). We thus 
see the numerals testifying to the association of the 
Northern with the Central Sakai and of the Besisi with 
the Jakun. But in both cases there are important 
reservations to be made. The Besisi numerals go to 
" three " only ; the Jakun go as far as " seven.** The 
Besisi have tree-huts ; the Jakun have huts of the Malay 
typo but raised on posts very high above the ground. 
The Besisi are indifferent to religion while the Jaknu 
build elaborate graves that show an implicit belief in 
a future life. Diiferences of this sort are not negligible 
and fortuitous; they justify the separate classification 
of the two tribes. 
