Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

ii6 FOOD PART II
the tribe, whilst even the contact of the sap with the
skin produces considerable irritation.^
Meals.
Kedah Semang".—Among the Semang of Kedah the
women and girls, after cooking the food, were not
allowed to eat any of it until the men and boys of
the tribe had finished their repast. At Siong on
one occasion I photographed a number of Semang
in the middle of a meal. Their food, which they
eagerly devoured and obviously enjoyed, consisted
of a quantity of rice and some small fowls that
I had brought with me,—a sufficient reply to the
assertion which has often been made that these tribes
are afraid to eat the flesh of any domestic creature.
These materials, after cooking, were deposited in
separate heaps upon large banana- leaves, and were
partaken of first by all the males of the tribe sitting
together.
The women could be seen inside the hut waiting
quite patiently when their work was done until their
lords and masters should have finished their repast.
\Sti7mdants and Narcotics.
Kedah Semang. — Betel -chewing appeared to be
very sparingly indulged in by all the Semang tribes
that I came across. Occasional instances certainly
occur, but the custom is certainly very much more
rarely found among the Semang than among the more
southern tribes, and their teeth were, as a rule, entirely
* De la Croix (quoting Sir H. Low), same as that of the Semang of Kedah,
p. 334. From Mr. L. Wray I learn that with the addition of gourds, pumpkins,,
in other respects their diet is much the chillies, maize, and sweet potatoes.