Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

474
DECORA TIVE ART
represent the upper extremities of the posts forming
the fence, as seen from above. The projections at
A in the fence pattern represent the feet of the
vampire, and hence, indirectly, the vampire itself. The
double row of dots running between the fence figures
represents the vampire's loin-cloth or " chawat." ^
The next row shows (at B— B) the " seven bam-
boos " of the " Tabong " legend,- which form a favourite
subject for representation. Between these seven
bamboos (all separate) there now remain the follow-
ing alternate figures: (i) a bamboo -leaf or leaves,
pointing upwards ; (2) the vampire's wings ; (3) a
bamboo-leaf or several leaves, pointing downwards ;
(4) clouds ; (5) the vampire's wings and body ; (6) a
bamboo-leaf, pointing downwards ; (7) clouds.
The next division shows the figures on the
feathers of the Argus ; the scale-shaped figure which
is shown beside it in the illustration representing the
scales on the feet of the bird. The fourth division
contains the eyes on the feathers of the Argus
pheasant's tail. The fifth division represents clouds,
which, like the vampire, are emblematic of nocturnal
life. The sixth division again shows the eyes on the
tail-feathers of the Argus.
The seventh division represents the elbows of
the ape, as emblematic of an entire ape. The dots
shown above at C are the dots on the blowpipe-dart,
and help to distinguish the figure from others, such
as the elbow of an ape.
The broad stripes produced by stripping off the skin
in the eighth division again represent bamboo stems.^
1 Z.f.E. xxvi. 170. is possible that Vaughan - Stevens
* This will be found in vol. ii. pp. may have fallen into some trap
213, 214. through misunderstanding his in-
Ibid. p. 171. Here again it formants.