Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. VI SAVAGE MALA YS OF MALACCA 315
" akar samuga'," are carried by way of a charm for
success in hunting, Hke the " siyap " of the Dayaks.
The reeds (of the reed-bundle in the quiver) are
called " plet."
The Blowpipe.
Mantra.— The weapons of the Mantra are the
blowpipe, spear, the Malay dagger or " kris," and
a kind of (Malay) sword called " chenangkas." '
There is no important difference between the
Mantra methods of manufacturing the blowpipe,
and those practised by the Besisi. A few words
with regard to the polishing and other processes
may, however, here be added. The polishing of the
interior of the blowpipe-tube is begun by means of
bamboo shavings fixed to the end of a cleaning-rod."
The process is then repeated a second time with
" polishing- leaves " (of " akar simplas "), and again
a third time with a small strip of bark-cloth, which
is used merely to give it a " finish," ^
The two portions of the blowpipe-tube are then
spliced in the usual way (as among the Besisi). The
only difference lies in the nomenclature used by
'
J.
- ^ Vaugiian-Stevens, ii. 1 14.
the Mantra blo\v|)ipc, see Ikirbc :
For
"To
sportsman, as they arc able
(after having been wounded) to
to run
a gnat
pr(jcure (their food) they use the sumpi- distance. These savages seldom miss
I. .4. vol. i. p. 330*. die, but they are generally lost to ihe
tan, which is a bamboo from 6 to S feet their aim. 1 have seen them thus
long ; the arrows are slips of bamboo shoot with their arrows monkeys seated
10 inches long, with a piece of light on trees of 70 or So feet liigh, when
wood at the bottom, shapctl to the the wounded animal, after jumping on
bore of the tube, which they propel some other branches, and throwing
by blowing hard. The point of the away what he was eating, immediately
arrow being anointed with a jirepared after fell down, if the ' ipoh ' h.id
poison called 'ipoh,' communicates it been well prepared"' (Kev. M. Barbe,
to the blood, and after two or three in the Hcnj^a/ Catholic Herald, 1 2lh
minutes the animal vomits and falls June 1S50 ; quoted \\\ J.I.A. vol. v.
dead. Should tlie arrow penetrate the pp. 4S7, 488), Cp. also Borie, ante.
skin of large animals, many of them