Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. IX NEGRITOS OF PERAK 463
actual circumference of the bamboo and similar cir-
cumstances. It is not always possible to tell which
figure is the real subject of a panel. Where, how-
ever, nothing is said to the contrary, it may generally
be taken to be the figure furthest to the left in each
of the designs. Many panels, however, have only one
pattern throughout, and hence an irregular figure
inside the same is no " peculiarity " in the above
intended sense, and - will only occasionally be men-
tioned in the description.^ Between a " pecu-
liarity " and such an irregularity there is a great
difference from the Semang point of view (see No.
40). Besides these two there is a third kind of
"deviation" or differentiation (see No. 96 and No.
112, etc.).'- Where there are only spirals instead
of the ring-lines, the exact position of both extremi-
ties relatively to the figures represented is always
exactly determined. In the case of the repetition of
figures in a band, the beginning or the end may occur
either to the right or left or in immediate coincidence
with one of the figures, the aforesaid " peculiarities "
occurring relatively to a definite figure (see, e.g., spiral
2 in charm-tube M). T2 may perhaps be taken as an
exception, as may be inferred from its design.]
The widths of the various pattern-bands or panels
are not arbitrary, but stand in a certain fixed relation-
ship to one another, very much as is shown by the
designs. The exact width, however, of the central
panel (when it is left free) is of no consequence, and
hence the Semang generally commences to cut the
pattern at the top and bottom first, and so gradually
1 Z./.E.,loc.cii. It. must therefore - In the designs, however, no
be presupposed that the differentiations difference can be seen between a
not mentioned by Vaughan - Stevens "peculiarity" and a mere " irre^ubelong
to the class of mere irregularities, larity." See No. 45.