Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. IX SAKAI OF PERAK 483
The hatching in the lowest panel represents the
wall of a house, as symbolising the house itself. The
figures A A are partially burnt trees, which have
remained standing after the felling and burning of a
clearing. To the left of these trees (at B) is a
young " bertam "-palm leaf placed upright (in its
natural position). At C is shown a branch or tree-
stem forked at both ends, stems of this kind being
used as props or trestles.
The next three figures to the left of these are
also " bertam "-leaves (one upright and two upside
down), the upright ones representing the central or
inner leaves of the palm, and the remaining pair the
outer ones (which are forced outwards and downwards
as the inner ones expand). At D there follows a tree
(either blown down by the wind, or perhaps uprooted
by human agency), which is shown lying ready for its
stem to be split.
At E we have a leaf of the " langkap "- {Licuala)
palm, such as is sometimes used for thatching in
substitution for " bertam " [Enj^cissona). Above this
are drawings which symbolise house-building material.
a. This represents a creeper in full leaf Whenever
this creeper (which is used for the house-lashings) is
pulled down from the top of the tree up which it has
climbed, it falls in coils on the ground. These are
symbolised by the duplication of the lower part of the
figure.'
b. Left of this is the figure at b ; the lower part of
which represents a kind of rough ladder by means
of which the roof (of the half-built house) can be
reached; half-way up comes a break showing the
place where the roof is joined on, and above that we
> Z.f. E. xxvi. 179.