Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

124 FOOD PART II
"spices" (the precise kind is not mentioned), and
" kesom," ^
Different kinds of seasoning are mentioned in
other songs, especially various kinds of wild pepper,
" pedas chanchang " -^ and " pedas jintan."^ " Asam
k'lubi " *
is excluded as a seasoning for animals
killed with the blowpipe, for the reasons stated above.
The most usual method of making fire among
all the branches of the Jakun race (including the
Besisi) is by means of flint and steel. Logan, how-
ever, mentions a case in which some Jakun produced
fire by circular friction, exactly as it is sometimes pro-
duced by civilised Malays.^ The steel consists of a
fragment of tool-iron, and is generally wrapped up
together with the flint in a piece of cloth and left in
the hut during short absences of the owner, or carried
on the person (in his " bujam " or matwork pouch)
together with the usual palm-fluff tinder.
The commonest type of hearth is the Malay box-
hearth, which consists of a shallow box filled with
earth, upon which are usually laid, in a triangle, the
Malayan firestones, between which a fire of sticks is
kindled. Fire-logs, such as are used by the inland
Sakai, are, however, often to be seen.
Meals.
Besisi.—As in the case of all the wild tribes, the
Besisi men eat before the women. Morning and
evening are their special meal-times, but they con-
' Probably =" kasum," Polygonum ^ Cummin, also used by tlie Malays
Jlaccidum, ^leissn. (Polygonacece), a in making curries.— Ridley,
common weed, also called " kalima * The fruit of Zalacca conferta,
paya"or "swamp" kalima.— Ridley. Griff.
- Unidentified. ^ J. I. A. vol. i. jx 255.