Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

92 RACIAL AFFINITIES part
greater height of the Orang Laut may depend, at any
rate, partly on the smaller amount of intermixture with
Semang (and Sakai) tribes. The more inland Jakun
of Johor and Selangor sometimes show considerable
traces of a Negrito strain. Had this been noticeably
present in the Orang Laut, I think Logan and
Thomson and other good observers would have
noticed it, especially if it had affected the hair.^
It is impossible to form an estimate of the number
of Orang Laut existing at the present time. Certain
it is that the number is much less than it was a century
ago, largely owing, no doubt, to the ravages of smallpox
as well as to their conversion to Islam and con-
sequent absorption among the Malays.
Walking.
The children of the Orang Laut very soon become tired on land, and walk
with legs bent outwards ; the half-breeds are straighter and stronger.
The adult Orang Laut soon becomes tired in walking, and the walk of the
entire race is, in fact, very clumsy on the land, because they squat down so much
together in their little boats ; they can, in fact, be recognised at once from this
characteristic.^
Cli7nbing.
The Orang Laut climb well, when obliged to do so. As the trees on the
coast are usually of small circumference, they can clasp the round trunk more
than half-way round with their arms, and use the inside of the foot in climbing up.
They do not appear to be acquainted with the idea of climbing by help of a rope
or noose. If, therefore, they wish to climb a larger tree, which they cannot
climb up by the help of the arms and legs alone, they are obliged to make a ladder.
For this purpose bamboo pegs are driven into the tree one above the other, at
distances of about two feet. To the ends of these pegs a baml)oo pole is lashed
so that it stands out from the tree about six inches. By means of these pegs,
which serve in place of the rungs of a ladder, the man climbs up, and as he
climbs drives fresh pegs into the tree above those already driven ; when he has
reached the end of the first pole, he fastens a second pole to the tree in con-
tinuation of the first, and so on till he reaches the branches. Bark-fibre is used for
lashings, and the ladder thus constructed is left in its place till it falls to pieces.^
Throwing.
The Orang Laut are very sure and strong throwers, and far excel all the
other tribes in this respect. They are, for instance, very clever at throwing the
^ There are, however, to be seen though there are straight-haired ones
curly-haired Orang Laut boys in Singa- as well.
pore. In fact they are fairly common, '^
Z.f, E. xxix. 194.
^ lb. p. 19S.