Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. IV NEGRITOS OF KEDAH 91
I.
—
Semang.
Pangan. — The Pangan or Eastern Semang of
Kelantan informed me that the bodies of the laymembers
of the tribe were buried in the ground (in a
way which I shall presently describe), but that the bodies
of their great magicians (whom they called " B'lians ")
were deposited in trees in order that they might be
able to iiy over the head of the fearful figure which they
believe blocks the narrow way that leads to the Jungle-
men's Paradise. They further informed me that the
dead body of one of these magicians had actually been
deposited in a tree on the banks of the Kelantan river
(above S. Sam), but the place described already lay
a considerable distance to the rear of our expedition,
and it was not then possible to reascend the river in
order to investigate. I may add that the Pangan, like
the Sakai, are entreated at death to " think of their de-
parted ancestors alone and forget their living friends."
Kedah Semang".— I will now describe the grave of a
Semang which may be taken as fairly typical, and of
which I was able personally to obtain the full par-
ticulars. At Siong, in Kedah, I persuaded the Peng-
lima or head of the Semang tribe, with a great deal
of difficulty, to allow me to purchase the bones of a
relative of his own who had been buried in the jungle
not far from the settlement. The Penglima con-
ducted one of the local Malays and myself to the site of
the grave, which was in the depths of the jungle, and
which we could never have found without assistance.
A couple of stout bamboo poles which had been
used to form the bier by means of which the remains
had been borne to the spot, lay crossed above the
grave, which was partially defended by a low fence of