Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. Ill NEGRITOS OF KEDAH 177
rest or warmth. " There were altogether seven of
these 'nests' on the river-bank,"^ and the occupants,
who were, I think, undoubtedly Pangan, had only just
left them before his and his companion's arrival.
Coniiminal Shelter's.
Semang' of Kedah.— From an ordinary round hut
which will shelter one or two small families the transi-
tion to an elongated shelter which will hold a greater
number is not very difficult. The Semang shelter at
Siong in Kedah accommodated all the members of the
tribe who were living in the neighbourhood, and con-
tained no fewer than eleven (?) sleeping-places arranged
in two long rows ;
it may therefore be described as
being of the "barrack" or "long-house" type. The
upright timbers of this shelter consisted of young sap-
lings planted in two opposite rows, across them being
lashed the leaves of the "chencham," a low-growing
palm not unlike the well-known " bertam " palm
{Eugeissona tristis) in appearance, but which was
declared by the Semang to be a different tree. The
uprights of the shelter were called " pengkong," and
the leaves lashed across them "hapoi." There were,
besides, two central posts or pillars (" jehu "), each about
a third of the distance from either end of the shelter,
and a dozen poles placed, as props or " wind-braces,"
in various positions and at various angles, in order to
strengthen the structure and keep it from being blown
over in a high wind." In front of the shelter at the
upper end was a big opening which served as the
main entrance, but there were in addition several
» /. R. A. s., s. B., No. 25, p. 45.
* " TCnungked,'' Plus dialect ; or "chCnidel," Kedah.
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