Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

466
DECORA TIVE ART
of relatively great width, the corresponding central
panel of the blowpipes frequently seems to be narrow.^
[Subdivision IB of the same class has an empty
space in the centre corresponding to that to be seen
in quivers Li, F2, etc., whereas a space of this kind
does not occur on the combs. This characteristic is
one of a kind that does not usually strike the eye.
When, indeed, the design of the long charm-tube
(" ga' ") was adapted to the shorter portion of the
blowpipe-tube (" cha-nam-pah-i "), the meaningless
blank centre space, the existence of which was only
due to the rule that the pattern must cover the entire
bamboo, was either altogether omitted or reduced
to the space between two ring -lines. If any one
wished to make the intervals between the ring-lines
as wide as the vacant middle space (see, for instance,
No. 56), there would be no rule to hinder him,
but only custom. Hence it is difficult to know
whether any particular figure belongs to this class,"
and Vaughan-Stevens himself was doubtful how to
classify No. 75 until a Semang cut the design for
him on a charm-tube ("ga'"), leaving the open space
in the centre. It belongs, therefore, to the same type
as No. 56, except that the latter blowpipe pattern
may be classified with yet another group on account
of the dotted lines of the design, as we shall see.
Since the vacant centre space in No. 75 was only
^ Z.f. E., I.e. 152. Only comb 2oG does not appear to be any precise rule,
has also a small, scarcely prominent as other variations are also admissible,
central panel {Z.f. E. xxv. 94). Hence ^ Confusion with class IA is especi-
it is frequently impossible to establish ally easy because of the want of prothe"betud."
minence given to the " betud." Again,
Of the remaining panels there may the non-multiplication of the ring-lines
be either four above and three below, (" kening-uin "), which one would
or three above and two below, or in expect to find there upon the omission
the case of a long "cha-nam-pah-i," of the vacant centre space, does not
five above and five below. But there point to the omission.