Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. IX NEGRITOS OF PERAK 467
bounded on each side by a ring-line, there was no
indication when the space was omitted.' Blank
panels in general are called " picheg," with the name
for the panel in question prefixed.-]
This class IB is used for protection against any
form of epidemic, whether severe or light. ^ In another
place, however, Vaughan-Stevens restricts the patterns
employed against epidemics to a special subdivision of
Class IB. On this point he says that a Disease which
we should call an epidemic, and which, though it only
appears occasionally, attacks all or many at the same
time {e.g. influenza, small-pox, and cholera), is signified
by Nos. 96, loi, 105, 109 of the blowpipe patterns
and by quiver H2, in which cases a design (usually,
but not always, of identical form for both halves)
fills the entire space, and is only divided into two
parts in the centre by means of ring-lines. The
upper half is for the men, the lower half for the
women. This class, moreover, is not represented
upon the combs, since the Disease attacks both sexes
equally. No. 97 at first sight appears an exception,
but the single black cross-line of the lower half is
not a ring-line, since these are invariably at least
drawn in pairs.^
[Apart from these two subdivisions, there is a yet
further subdivision of the first type."^ IC is of avail
against Diseases which appear at different times and
in different forms and in different parts of the body.]
' See the previous note. ID appear to be arranged under lA ;
* Z.f. E.yl.c. 152. Cf. "w.is picheg" IE and IF, on the other hand, as far
on the combs (Z./. E. xxv. 81). as externals go, arc not precluded
^ But the Diseases against which the from being grouped with Classes lA
" ga' " and "go' " patterns (which pos- and IH {cf. No. 56.). ICj shows,
sess a vacant centre space) are said to moreover, an approach to Class II.,
prevail are not epidemics. in resjiect of the general arrange-
* Loc. cif. 153. Cf. also i. 11. ment of the patterns (see Nos. 73,
* In what follows Classes IC and 77, 88).