Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

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MUSIC, SONGS, AND FEASTS
nearly a minute together. Their whole range most
probably did not exceed three or four notes/
The first song was the " Tune of the Gias-tree " *
(" Lagu Gias "). This was an enumeration of fruit-
bearing trees, and of the favourite mountains and
forests of the tribe. It was said to be held in great
veneration, and might contain some of the germs of
the traditions of this singular people. Next came
the " Tune of the Tiger-spirit " (" Lagu Chenaku ").
" Chenaku " (or " B'lian ") is the name given to a
man who conceals his identity as a tiger under the
semblance of a human form (Malay " Jadi-jadi-an "),
this belief being widespread among the Malays as
well as among the aboriginal tribes. The next song
was the "Tune of the Prah-tree " ("Lagu Prah "),
sung when the " prah " fruit is ripe, no small occasion
of festivity among the forest tribes. The fruit is
sliced up and mixed with other ingredients (" rojak,")
and then heat-dried in bamboo tubes (" lemang ").^
The performance concluded with the " Tune
of the Durian-fruit " (" Lagu Durian "). This, like
the others, was unfortunately unintelligible, though it
may be presumed that their estimate of this fruit was
a high one.
But the most remarkable performance yet attributed
to the Perak Semang is undoubtedly the Dance-drama
related by De Morgan, who was an eye-witness of it,
and describes it as follows :
A young girl entered the circle and began to dance
in the middle. She advanced slowly at first with a
' Maxwell in/. A'. -'/. .V., .S'. B., No. confuses together the names " Sakai "
4, p. 49.
^
(?) "(jayns." and "Semang," but that his account
•• Ibid. It should be noted that is otherwise suljstantially correct.
Maxwell, in tiic account quoted above, /. A'. A. S., .V. B., No. 4, ;i. 49.