Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

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CHAPTER XI.
Dealings with Other Races.
The most nomadic of all the wild tribes of the
Peninsula are certainly the wilder Semang, who
seldom stay more than three days in any one locality,
and spend their entire lives in the hunt for wild roots
and game. These " cheery little hunters," as they
have been well described, travel continually in the
north of the Peninsula, but do not usually appear to
go far southward, their journeys being generally
confined to the interior of the States of Perak, Kedah,
and Kelantan, the old Malay State of Patani, and a
portion of Trengganu and Pahang (north of the
mouth of the river Tahan).
Of the Sakai tribes of Perak Sir F. Swettenham
remarks that the common idea that they wander at large
all over the hills is certainly a mistake. Each particular
tribe keeps exclusively to its own valley, and is
frequently at feud with its neighbours on either side.'
Their habits are migratory within their own districts,
but except when compelled by the oppression of the
Malays or other causes they seldom leave their own
valleys.
The Jakun or " savage Malayan " tril)es, among
* This does not mean that they actually go to war.
* Swettenham, op. (it.
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