Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

322 WEAPONS AND IMPLEMENTS part ii
The Mantra, like the Besisi, make a rectangular
patch or panel in front of the quiver by scraping off
the surface of the cuticle and waxing it. It is on this
patch that they work up (by rolling) the points of
their darts. Vaughan-Stevens states that the effect
of wax is also occasionally obtained by their rubbing
the nose upon it, the required effect being produced
by the natural moisture of the skin. Grotesque as this
statement sounds, it may yet have some truth in it.
I myself have more than once seen the Besisi rub
the nose upon the panels of their quivers, though I have
never seen or heard of the remainder of the operation
here described, and at the most, all that can be safely
said against it is that Vaughan-Stevens' account re-
quires further corroboration/
The Mantra, like most of the other tribes, carry
a small stock of resin at (or near) the bottom of the
quiver, this being chiefly intended for fixing on the
butt-ends of the darts should they work loose at any
time. The interior is fitted with the usual reeds.-
butt-end (pfropfen) of the dart, and Stevens' wretched orthography its corwhich
is the material really referred to ruption into such a form as "linghur"
in the last sentence. For "pintal tukas," would be more than probable. 1 myself
therefore, in this passage read " tukas "
have frequently seen these same patches
or " rabok tukas," i.e. fluff of the on the quivers of the Besisi.
tukas-palm (and />««;>« when this fluff is - See Vaughan-Stevens, ii. 105,106;
referred to), but keep "pintal," i.e. 122. Vaughan-Stevens says this resin is
plaitor plaiting, for the girdle. "Tukas" obtained from a tree which he has
has nothing whatever to do with been unable to identify, but which is
" tikus," as suggested by Vaughan- called " kceji " (sic). According to
Stevens (note to v. -St. ii. 121).] Blagden, " kijai " is {properly speak-
* Vaughan-Stevens, ii. 121-122. ing) the resin obtained from the
This rectangular patch was only seen "kedondang" tree, and there can
by Vaughan-Stevens among the Mantra, be little doubt that this is its right
who use, he says, a very sticky meaning here. He adds that it was
poison which seldom properly dries. fonnerly used for fixing on the rattan
The Mantra, he says, call it "linghur," rings which encircle the body of the
which Vaughan-Stevens' editor suggests quiver, but that now "the Malay
may = Mai. "lingga." The nearest cement," prepared " from buffalo-milk
word that I can find, however, is and chalk," is substituted. I am unable
Malayo-Javanese "lenga" = oil. The to corroborate this, and it should be
sense is right, and with Vaughan- quite unnecessary, as the wedging, to