Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

286 WEAPONS AND IMPLEMENTS part ii
darts in turn in it until they acquired a thick, coagu-
lated clot about the point, which extended as high
as the nick already referred to. The darts, thus
poisoned, were dried in the sun, being made to lean
against a stick or log, with the points directed upwards.
It was alleged by the Semang that the "blackening"
of the dart would render it less visible when in use.
but even if the assertion were true, it seems hardly
necessary. Yet some of the Semang maintained that
the dart-point (when coated with the poison) is regu-
larly " blackened " by being smoked either over a fire
or in torch-smoke. Possibly, however, the reason of
the popularity of the black tint may be merely that it
shows that the dart has been well dried.
The poison used is of several strengths, which
vary according to the kind of quarry which it is de-
signed to kill. Chintok informed me that when it was
used in its full strength a thin line was burnt across
the butt-end thus, ; but that when the poison used
is of inferior strength (as it would be if designed for
small game or birds), no mark was made on it.
None of the Kedah Semang were in the habit of
mixing anything with the Upas poison. This, how-
ever, was due (they said) to the fact that they used
poison derived direct from the Upas tree [Antiaris),
which can be utilised without any further admixture,
whereas other Semang tribes, e.g. those north of the
Plus, employed the Upas creeper (" ipoh akar," or
" ipoh gunong "), which has been identified with
Stryckttos tieute {Bl. Loganiace(E)}
The cuticle or bark of this latter plant is (by the
Semang north of the Plus) shredded and boiled till it
p. 241,
* See Ridley's Planl-List, s.v. " Ipoh." Cp. also J. A. G. Campbell,