06.04.2013 Views

Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

CHAP. VI SAVAGE MALAYS OF SELANGOR 313<br />

<strong>the</strong> sun to dry, <strong>the</strong> stand being designed not only<br />

to hold <strong>the</strong>m in position, but also to prevent <strong>the</strong>m<br />

from being accidentally knocked against, or perhaps<br />

blown away in a high wind.<br />

When <strong>the</strong> drying was completed <strong>the</strong> darts<br />

were fitted into <strong>the</strong> reed-bundle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> quiver, and<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir butt-ends branded or marked with lime and<br />

water, in order to distinguish <strong>the</strong> various strengths <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> poison, <strong>the</strong> designs consisting <strong>of</strong> bars, crosses, and<br />

dots.<br />

The usual nick (as has been said) was made round<br />

<strong>the</strong> dart, but <strong>the</strong>re was a belief among <strong>the</strong> Besisi that<br />

no acid fruit should be eaten with <strong>the</strong> flesh <strong>of</strong> animals<br />

killed by <strong>the</strong>se darts, as <strong>the</strong>y believed this would<br />

bring out <strong>the</strong> full effects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poison in <strong>the</strong> eater.<br />

In addition to <strong>the</strong> above must be noticed <strong>the</strong><br />

belief, which was related to me by <strong>the</strong> Besisi, to <strong>the</strong><br />

effect that even <strong>the</strong> branch struck by a poisonous dart<br />

dies, not immediately, but slowly and surely.^<br />

The Quiver.<br />

The Besisi quiver (like that <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Sakai) was<br />

carried on <strong>the</strong> left hip, and fastened about <strong>the</strong><br />

waist with a cord <strong>of</strong> twisted tree-bark, secured by<br />

a buckle <strong>of</strong> bone or tortoiseshell.<br />

The interior <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> quiver is fitted with a rolledup<br />

bundle <strong>of</strong> small tubes or reeds made <strong>of</strong> young<br />

bamboo twigs, about as big as an ordinary lead-<br />

pencil. These reeds are united by lashings inside<br />

<strong>the</strong> body <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> quiver, each reed holding a single<br />

dart, <strong>the</strong> butt-end <strong>of</strong> which fits closely into its<br />

own individual reed at <strong>the</strong> upper extremity.<br />

1 I may also mention that <strong>the</strong> Besisi, maize was <strong>the</strong> only antidote for this<br />

like many o<strong>the</strong>r aborigines, asserted that Upas poison.

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!