FIVE DAYS IN NANING. 
406 
roasting a whole wild hog 1 sat down on the trunk ot a 
fallen tree in front, beneatli a scanty kajang, presented the 
men who had followed us and others who soon joined them 
with some tobacco which I had brought for the purpose and 
triedto engage them in conversation. The Besisi seated them¬ 
selves on the grass opposite us, and conversed freely with 
the matamata, with whom they seemed to be on good terms 
He spoke to them in a halt kindly, halt authoritative tone, 
and they answered in a simple, good humoured manner. 
Their conversation flowed less readily than that of a Malay, 
partly no doubt from being habitually less talkative, but 
evidently in a considerable degree from their being at a loss 
with what topics to entertain their visitors. Towards myself 
they were for a time reserved and constrained, but this wore 
off and they answered my questions readily and with good 
will, and seemed pleased with the interest I took in them. 
They presently produced a sum pi tan and arrows with a joint 
of bambu filled with the poisonous juice prepared for the latter, 
but they could not be prevailed on to part with a sumpitan, 
alleging that they had only one and could not procure food 
without it. Notwithstanding the great contrast in manners 
and expression, the physical appearance of the Besisi was 
so similar to that of the Malays, that it was evident, at tae 
first glance, that they were physically one and the same race. 
Half an hour's conversation proved that in other respects also 
we still find in them the real basis of the Malay. . The 
tones of the voice, some peculiar modes of intonation of 
words and simple sounds, even some traits of manners were, 
if not purely Malay, at least so like Malay, anil so unlike 
any other continental race, that it was impossible to resist 
the conviction that in the Besisi we see the Malay ot the 
pre-Indian ages of the Archipelago. A disagreeable fetid 
odour surrounded the house, and my Mahamedan compa¬ 
nions did not seem quite at ease in such immediate proximity 
to the pig, so that I was obliged to leave sooner than I wished. 
] had some difficulty in prevailing on the Besisi to visit me at 
Ganong Ayer Panas, but succeeded. They drew back however 
on finding that the matamata was not to go with us. Hie 
temptation of getting some handkerchiefs, cloth and tobacco 
at last overcame their reluctance, and it was arranged that 
some of them should escort me and two of my Malays over 
Bukit Panchur, while several of the others, with one or two 
of their women, should accompany the other Malays to yet 
Panas by the nearest road. They also promised to give me 
one of their bulu perindu. When breakfasting near a stream 
