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Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

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72<br />

RACIAL AFFINITIES<br />

Sembilan and in Sungei Ujong. Their alternative<br />

name Pago is taken from a tributary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Muar in<br />

Johor which bears that name.<br />

So Httle is definitely known <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se Orang Pago<br />

or Udai, however, that it is very difficult to ascertain<br />

what is <strong>the</strong>ir exact relationship to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r wild people.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> whole, <strong>the</strong>y are probably a race somewhat mixed<br />

with <strong>the</strong> Semang, dwelling in N.W. Johor, <strong>the</strong> Negri<br />

Sembilan, Sungei Ujong, and Jelebu ; or <strong>the</strong>y may<br />

even perhaps be chiefly <strong>of</strong> Negrito origin, an outlier,<br />

as it were, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> main groups <strong>of</strong> that race whose<br />

principal home is far<strong>the</strong>r to <strong>the</strong> north. For <strong>the</strong><br />

present, and until more definite information is forth-<br />

coming, <strong>the</strong> question must remain open.<br />

Besisi.<br />

One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most important <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> tribes living on<br />

<strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn extremity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Peninsula</strong> are <strong>the</strong> Besisi.<br />

The name always used by <strong>the</strong>mselves is "Sisi"; <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>Malay</strong> explanation (Besisi = Bersisik) ^ is certainly due<br />

entirely to <strong>Malay</strong> popular etymology.<br />

According to Logan (/. ^.), <strong>the</strong> Mantra on <strong>the</strong> northwest<br />

" march with <strong>the</strong> Besisi, one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most numerous<br />

tribes, who occupy all <strong>the</strong> streams flowing in that<br />

direction from Gunong Berembun. It is this tribe<br />

which occupies <strong>the</strong> Sungei Ujong and Linggi, and <strong>the</strong><br />

lower part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Langat, with <strong>the</strong>ir feeders."<br />

Martin says <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Besisi that <strong>the</strong>y are essentially<br />

brachycephalic, whilst <strong>the</strong> Blandas, like <strong>the</strong> Sakai<br />

(Senoi), are chiefly dolichocephalic. He adds that<br />

whilst <strong>the</strong> Sakai (Senoi) are amongst <strong>the</strong> shortest <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> wild tribes, <strong>the</strong> Blandas and Besisi show a larger<br />

percentage <strong>of</strong> relatively taller individuals. With <strong>the</strong>m,<br />

1 I.e. <strong>the</strong> "scaly" people.

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