Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

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I20 FOOD PARI II
simple constructions ;
a
mat of leaves is spread
on the floor, and over this is spread about three
inches of earth, and a fire lighted, which once lighted
is not allowed to got out. For although every Sakai
carries a tinder-box, it is much easier to blow up
a smouldering log into a blaze than to rekindle it.
Three or four long logs of suitable wood, each about
nine inches in diameter, are arranged so that their
ends approach the middle of the hearth. A small fire
of sticks is lighted in the centre, and the logs keep the
fire up for weeks, and as they burn away are drawn
gradually into the fire. The burning ends serve to
support the saucepans, and the accumulated ashes
below to roast tapioca and sweet potatoes in. As
there are always several other logs lying about the
floor drying so as to be ready for use, it is not very
easy to get about without knocking one's shins. ^
The Sakai generally use earthen cooking vessels,
but prefer iron ones when they can get them. Like
the Negritos, they have many ingenious methods
for the preparation of their food. The wild yam
and the "kapayang" fruit ^ ("piyung") are cut into
small pieces, cooked, and laid in running water for
twenty-four hours to draw the poison out of them.^
A similar process is employed in the preparation of
the bitter cassava ^ [Maiiihot uiilissima).
A yet more curious process described by Hale is
to bury such poisonous tubers for days together in one
of the swamps in the jungle. After being steeped in
this way till they are sodden, they are dug up again
and rasped with a prickly shoot of rattan (alrccidy
^ Hale, p. 294. * Sic Vaughan - Stevens (/'/>.), but
- Pangitimedtile. Thehuskof thenut according to Mr. II. N. Ridley the
is used as a receptacle. L'H. ii. 619. bitter cassava is not cultivated in the
3 Vaughan-Stevens, ii. 112. Peninsula!