Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

230 MODES OF BARTER pari- ii
for dealing with the Chinese, who supply them with
tobacco, cloth-stuffs, rice, tools, and cooking utensils,
in return for various articles of jungle produce, such
as gutta-percha and charcoal. They do not have
recourse to the Malays except when there are no
Chinese, as they are frequently cheated by the former,
whereas the latter treat them not only with scrupulous
honesty, but even with a sort of" fraternal cordiality." '
III.
—
Jakun.
Blandas.—The foregoing descriptions of barter as
it obtains among the Semang and the Sakai of Perak
apply so closely to the Blandas of Kuala Langat
that it is hardly necessary to particularise further.
An interesting point, however, which is worth men-
tioning is that both the Blandas and the Besisi, their
neighbours, make considerable use of incantations and
magic in collecting their jungle produce. The follow-
ing charm employed by the collectors of wild honey
is a fair example :
—
Honey-gatherers' Charm.
'" " Mung, mung, mung I the moon-white apes cry
(Apes of " rock " and " well " and " basil "),
Come ye out into the moonlight.
Hearken to me with affection,
List to me with kind affection,
Grannies, hark to me, your grandchild,
Who but begs for you to teach him
How to weave a mat—of rushes !
Grannies, o'er the seas come hasting,
O'er the hills come hasting, Grannies !
.•swinging, swaying, come ye hither 1
All I beg is, you should teach me
How to weave a mat— of bees-wax I
Grannies, hark to me your grandchild !
When I have explained that the moon -white
" apes " in this invocation are probably intended to
' Letessier, p. lOO.
I