Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. IX NEGRITOS OF PERAK 443
to make it certain that the simple signs have always
been accompanied by the complicated representations
of Disease. These two extremes—simple ring-lines
and complicated designs—form the foundation of the
subsequent development.
[Only with regard to the occasional Semang practice
of inserting a pattern in the centre panel and leaving
the rest free, a conjecture may perhaps be offered.
The centre panel, like the original scheme of the
ring-lines on the arrow-quiver, is generally indis-
tinguishable from the other panels in respect of its
size (not to mention the blowpipes, where the design
is generally much crushed together). It is also often
quite indistinguishable from the rest in respect of
the special import attached to the general pattern.
It is therefore quite possible that its size, even when
unusually large, is not of any special import, and
that it was only at a later stage that it was reserved for
the chief Disease-pattern, as indeed we find to be
the case to some extent in the tubes and uniformly in
the combs. One stage of its development appears
to be marked by a simple yet specialised central
pattern, to which other panels (with pairs of incised
lines) are added at the top and bottom (see, e.g.. Ni
to N3, Oi, Ri, R2, T2, Nos. 29, 30, 36, 51, etc.).
Again, in the description of the patterns emphasis
is often laid on the fact that the size of the vacant
centre panel is a matter of entire indifference. In the
blowpipes (as has been said) it is usually so crushed
together that a group is formed of the ring-lines which
serve as boundaries, and the alleged importance of the
size of the centre panel appears to be a mere fancy.
On the other hand, its separating effect is always
recognised and never forgotten, even though a