1^ 
PAPERS ON MALAY SUBJECTS, 
The results of tlie enquiry liave been tlic reverse of 
sensational. They do not bear out Mr. Blagden's 
theory that there are (at least) three distinct linguistic 
groups in the Peninsula eaeli with its own dialects 
and sub-dialects. The vocabularies tend to show that 
there are five dialects spoken and that these dialects 
have so many words in common that they may be 
regarded as belonging to one single language-gi-oupi 
Corresponding to these five main differences in speech 
there are important differences in race and culturoj so 
that it may be taken for granted that there arc five 
distinct tribes or races of aborigines; the Semang, the 
Northern Sakai, the Central Sakai, the Besisi, and the 
ilakun* We can now proceed to discuss each in its 
turn. 
