Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

4i: DECORATIVE ART
Blowpipe Patterns.
According to Preuss, the (129) specimens of
Semang blowpipe patterns, their dart-quivers ("go' "),
and charm-tubes (" ga ") are intended to serve as
charms against the various diseases and accidents
which are likely to attack or affect the men.'
The tradition of the Semang about the origin of
their blowpipe patterns ascribes them to the invention
of their god Pie, who with the aid of his daughter
Simei planted the flowers of their chief god Kari or
"Thunder" near a mountain peak(Jelmol), and evolved
from them the patterns which would avail against
Diseases. The Putto " incised these correct patterns,
exactly as Pie had invented them, on bamboos which
were deposited in a large cave, where they were changed
into stone ^ by the god, in order that they might always
be ready to serve as patterns. A set of these patterns
was prepared for each of the Sna-hut ; whose task it
was to see that the correct drawings were used by
the people. The Putto alone, however, knew where
the caves were. The parts of the flowers represented
on the combs in accordance with these traditions, viz.
" tepi," " was," " pawer," and " mos," are dealt with ac-
cording to their existing arrangement on the blowpipes,
without, however, any further working out of the details,
e.g. the identification of the remaining parts of the cor-
responding patterns which are incised on the combs.''
In the publications of the Berlin Ethnographical
Museum,' mention is made of the Semang explanation
J J' Z. f. E. xxxi. 1 59. See also
/C.f. E. XXV. 73/; There seem to be,
however, more imporlanl uses.
- Spelt by V.-St. "Puttow," which
may = " Pattau," th