Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. I SAKAI OF PERAK 119
or Jakun. But there is no reason to think so, and most
probably, Hke the others, they will eat anything that is
not actually poisonous. Thus Mr. L. Wray writes that
once, in an evil moment, he was induced by assurances
and example of some of the Sakai to eat some pretty
apple-like fruit with which a tree growing by the side
of the river was laden. The fruit, though pleasant at
first, left a very disagreeable after - taste, and he
suffered for the remainder of the day with sore mouth
and lips. It was a species* of the genus Garcima, of
which the " gelugor " fruit - is a well-known and closely
allied example.
Mr. Wray first saw, on Gunong Chunam Prah,
at a height of 3350 feet (102 1 m.), a blackberry
which grows amongst the underwood (" blukar ") on
the old Sakai clearings (" ladang "). The berry was
red and long, and had something of the flavour of its
English ally. The leaf and method of growth were also
very similar. Raspberries^ were common in the same
situations, but the fruit was small and nearly tasteless.*
The methods employed by the Sakai for obtaining
fire are similar to those used by the Negritos. To
procure fire the hill Sakai (Orang Bukit) rub two dry
pieces of bamboo together.^
In Kinta, according to Hale, every Sakai carries a
tinder-box, which, however, he does not use more
than he is obliged to do, as the fire of each family is
always kept smouldering to prevent its extinction."
Hale's description of the Sakai hearth deserves
full quotation. Each family (he writes) and wife . . .
had a separate hearth. These hearths are very
* Probably Garcinia Castata, Hensl. ^ De la Croix, p. 340.
* Mai. "gelugor," i.e. Garcinia " Hale, p. 294. The Batang Padang
atroviridis. ' Rubiis rosafoliiis. Sakai are said to use the fire-drill.
'' J.R.A.S., S.B., No. 21, p. 155. Fast: Mai. 41.
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