300 
TIIE OHANG BIDUANDA KALLANS 
Before the British obtained possession of Singapore, the Kallatig, 
which may be said to bound the present suburbs on the east, was 
the immemorial haunt of a small tribe who lived in boats, but avoid¬ 
ed the sea. Upon the cession of Singapore, they were removed 
by the Tamungong to the Pulai where they have remained ever 
since. They formerly consisted of about 100 families, occupying as 
many boats, but the ravages of the small P ox have reduced the num¬ 
ber to eight. They are fishermen and foresters, dividing their time 
between the two pursuits. They have small fishing stakes near the 
mouth of the river, which some of them visit in the morning. But 
they have so much dread of the sea that they do not venture to quit 
the river, and constantly proceed towards the interiour before 
night. "When a strong breeze rises they drag their boats a shore. 
They never make huts. They collect forest produce for one of the 
Tamungong’s Malays who has charge of them. They have a ho¬ 
mo or physician who sings to summon the hantus to give them 
medicine. 
They do not cultivate any plants, their ancestors having made 
a vow for the race against forming ladangs, and they believe that if 
any of them were to break it death would be the consequence. 
At child birth the mother drinks a decoction of the leaves of the 
bdk.au that have fallen from the trees and float on the water, and 
the child a little of the expressed juice of the buah kaluna. For 
any swelling they bruize leaves of the bdro and rub them over 
the part swollen. Cuts or wounds they rub with the juice of the 
akar Idle urdt. For pain in the bowels they use ginger. For 
head ache, they drink the juice of The kdyu kipielu dngm . 
Previous to marriage the bridegroom provides himself with a 
boat of his own. 
Corpses are wrapped in mats and buried. Upon the grave they 
place a cup of woman’s milk, one of rice and one of water, ant! 
entreat the deceased not to seek anything more from them. 
Polygamy and adultery are unknown. Widowers and widows 
do not marry a second time. 
Persons of the same family cannot intermarry however remote 
the degree. But the traces of relationship must soon be lost. 
Specimens of the rude chants will be given in speaking of the 
language. 
