Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

SA A'A I OF PERA A 229
live again for a while on roots and fruits, or (more
probably) to eke out the shortness of their own supply
with a fresh store obtained from the Malays. The
knives, spear-heads, and even the harpoon-heads used
by this tribe were all of Malay manufacture, as were
also all the cloths that they were wearing.
Perak Semangf.—As to the extent to which these
simple ways of trade were employed, De Morgan says
that the Semang obtained a " considerable portion "'
their livelihood by the barter of jungle produce with
the Malays.^ Like the earlier authorities quoted, he
adds that they were " absolutely ignorant " of the
value of money.'
II.
—
Sakai.
Perak Sakai. — The wild Sakai of the Perak Hills
(Sakai Bukit) in trading with the Malays always
either employ a " tame " Sakai as their intermediary,
or else confine themselves to depositing their jungle
products on the banks of the rivers at times and in
places which are tacitly understood. They then
withdraw, returning some time later to fetch the
articles which the Malays offer them in exchange.^
The articles in which the Sakai usually trade are
enumerated by De la Croix as including tree-gum, resin
(or "dammar"), gutta, caoutchouc, wax, honey, ivory,
and rhinoceros horns. These articles they dispose
of to the Malays, not for ready money, but for cloth,
salt, kitchen utensils, etc., the Malays being too
clever to lose by the exchange.''
Selangor Sakai.—The Sakai of Selangor (Kuala
Lumpor district) appear to have a decided preference
1 De Morg.in, viii. 296. ' De la Croix, p. 340.
•- /^. * /f>. p. 337-
of