Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

i:8 FOOD TAUT II
from Pines to the Lenggiu his two guides asked him to
allow them to go for a little while to a small deserted
gutta-collector's ("taban") hut not far from the path.
As their absence was prolonged, and a heavy rain was
falling, he went to the hut, and there found them
comfortably extended and smoking native cigarettes
(" roko' "), and it was only with great difficulty that he
could induce them to resume the journey. They had
procured a light by making the end of a piece of dry
stick revolve rapidly in a small depression which they
had made in another stick.^
There were usually two fireplaces among the Benua,
and they were furnished with the ordinary pots and
pans used by the Malays, and had also small supplies of
the coarsest Chinese plates and saucers. Water was
carried and kept in the shell of a peculiar species of
large melon which they cultivate, and which forms a
very neat and serviceable, though not durable, jar.
The bamboo is converted to the same purpose, but
not often. The stem of an " onak " - with the [tips of
the] thorns broken off formed a strong and very
effective grater. This was also used by the northern (.'*)
tribes. Platters made of hard wood, cut into neat
shapes and slightly curved, served, in conjunction with
a half coconut - shell, to bruise chillies and other
condiments. Malays have generally adopted for this
purpose a pestle and shallow stone mortar. Most of
the condiments were supplied by the Malays, such as
1
I. A. vol. i. pp. 254, 255. up which it climbs in the jungle.
J.
- " Onak " is the whip-like structure There may be some doubt, however,
(or " flagellum ") which forms the con- as to whether this "whip" is ever
tinuation of the midrib of a rattan (or strong enough to be used for the
calanuis) leaf. It is armed, as a rule, purpose described, and as " onak " is
with most formidable (recurved) thorns, often mistakenly used for the creeper
and serves as a species of grapnel by itself, it is possible that the stem
which this gigantic creeper hooks itself of the rattan is all that is here inon
to the higher branches of the trees tended.