Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. VI SAVAGE MALAYS OF SELANGOR 307
markedly shorter than the men of the tribe. Occasion-
ally, however, these pieces are called the " mother-
piece " and " child-piece " respectively. The con-
necting-piece is called " chemat " (as among the
Mantra).
For making the mouthpiece, which is always of
wood, a hole is bored right through the piece of wood
selected for the purpose ; it is then fitted by hand
into the butt-end of the inner tube, the end of
which is cut off flush with it. In order to make the
fit a tight one, the lips of the mouthpiece (which are
made long and thin to facilitate their introduction
between the inner and the outer tube) are in many
cases cut or broken at one side, thus enabling a fine
slip of cane to be pushed into the interstice, so as to
act as a delicate wedge. In some cases leaves are
used as a wedge (instead of this slip of cane), and
some of these bear traces of fire at their edges, as if
it had been intended to dry or harden them. Thin
strips of cloth are also sometimes similarly used by
the more civilised tribes.
The mouthpiece when complete is fitted on to one
end of the inner tube, which then only requires to be
fitted carefully to the bigger tube that forms the case or
sheathing. The latter, on account of the connecting-
piece or jacket that unites the two inner parts, has
naturally to be rather larger than would otherwise be
necessary.
The outer Tube or Caswc'.
The casing is manufactured either from Bambiisa
JVrayi or some similar kind of long-jointed bamboo, by
poking out the central node with a sharpened spike or
boring-rod ( " jcngroh " or "jengrok " ) made of a hard