278 
The binua op johore. 
ground on which we stand is not solid. It is merely the skin of the 
earth (kulit bunii). In ancient times Pirman broke up this skin, so 
that the world was destroyed and overwhelmed with water. Afterwards 
he caused Gunong Lulumut with Chimundang and Bechuak to rise, 
and this low land which we inhabit was formed later. These moun¬ 
tains in the south, and Gunong Ledang (Mount Ophir) Gunong Kap 
(Mount Kof probably,) Gunong Tonkat Bangsi, and Gunong Tonkafc 
Subang on the north, give a fixity to the Earth’s skin. The earth 
still depends entirely on these mountains for its steadiness. The Lu- 
liimut mountains are the oldest land. The summit of G. Tonkat 
Bangsi is within one foot of the sky; that of G. Tongkat Subang is 
within an earring’s length; and that of G. Kap is in contact with it. 
After Lulumut had emerged, a prau of pulai wood, covered over and 
without any opening, floated on the waters. In this Pirman had en¬ 
closed a man and a woman whom he had made. After the lapse of 
some time the pr&u was neither directed with or against the current 
nor driven to and fro. The man and woman, feeling it to rest mo¬ 
tionless, nibbled their way through it, stood on the dry ground, and 
beheld thL our world. At first, however, every thing was obscure. 
There was neither morning nor evening because the sun had not yet 
been made. When it became light they saw seven sindudo trees, and 
seven plants of nimput sambau. They then said to each other “ In 
what a condition are we without children or grandchildren!” Some 
time afterwards the woman became pregnant, not however in her 
womb, but in the calves of her legs. From the right leg was brought 
forth a male, and from the left a female, child. Hence it is that the 
issue of the same wmmb cannot intermarry. All mankind are the 
descendants of the two cliildren of the first pair. When men had 
much increased Pirman looked down upon them with pleasure and 
reckoned their numbers.” 
In crossing the Lingiu in the upper part of the ravine in which 
it rises, a long flat granitic slab covered with thickly growing moss, 
called Batu Bekachong, was pointed out as the first couch of the 
parents of the human race. 
They look upon the Gunong Lulumut group with a superstitious 
i everence, not only connecting it with the dawn of human life, but 
regarding it as possessed of animation itself. LuMmut is the hus¬ 
band, Chimundang his old wife, and Bechuak his young one. At 
first they lived together in harmony, but one day Chimundong in a fit 
of jealousy cut off Bechuak’s hair. The young w ife retaliated by 
a kick applied with such force to Chimundoug’s head that it was 
