2 
FASCICULI MALJTENSES 
A rod of bamboo, split for rather more than half its length, the split ends 
being forced apart and kept in position by a transverse bar of wood, upon 
which are loosely set four half cocoanut shells, disposed in pairs, the hollows 
of each pair being set towards each other. The cross-bar passes through holes 
in the cocoanut shells. Total length from cross-bar to end of handle, thirty 
inches. When shaken, the cocoanut shells clash loudly together. This 
instrument is used for frightening fish into the nets. It is interesting to 
note that instruments identical in character with the above appear again 
in the Melanesian region, where they are used also in connexion with 
fishing operations, being shaken either above or below water to attract 
sharks. Santa Cruz, San Cristoval, and the islands off the East Coast 
of New Guinea (Trobiands, d’Entrecasteaux Islands, etc.) all have this 
instrument, the form varying in detail only. These must certainly be 
genetically connected with the Malay rau-rau . 
* Being only used by fishermen, who are all Mahommedans, the rau-rau may 
be regarded at the present day as distinctly ft Malay,” but it must be remem¬ 
bered that the coast of Patani, probably, had at one time a large Bugis 
population. 
c Cocoanut shells are strung together on sticks (which, in this case, are 
fixed upright in the ground) in the open air, and are also used as torches by 
the natives of the Patani States. A few drops of kerosene, or some other 
inflammable material, are placed in the uppermost shell, but the natural oil of 
the shells themselves allows them to burn with a brilliant light. We have 
seen such torches used at theatrical performances both In Nawngchik and 
Jalor. Possibly the noise they produce when being set up, or carried from 
place to place, may originally have suggested the manufacture of an 
instrument like the rau-rau 
Fig, i. Scale = 
* Another percussion instrument may be mentioned as being used by the 
Patani fishermen. It consists of a little triangular or square float of light wood, 
