Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

528 DEALINGS WITH OTHER RACES part n
Hale adds that, the Malays themselves cheated
the Sakai most remorselessly. He was informed
by one of his men that he could always get tin ore
sufficient to smelt ten kati's [rather over 13 pounds]
of tin for a jungle-knife (" parang ") worth only thirty
cents/
They are a most peaceful race, and now at all
events never make war on each other or go in for
any sort of inter-tribal fighting. They are affectionate
and faithful both to their family and friends, and will
treasure objects which belonged to the
-'
deceased.
For the rest we may accept the statement that they
are by no means stupid, but very much the reverse
in all matters that even indirectly concern their own
interests. They are incapable, however, of standing
any prolonged mental strain, and their inventive
faculties seem dormant rather than non - existent.
When the occasion arises they are by no means want-
ing in resource."^
The Sakai of Perak (as Mr. L. Wray writes me)
are quite independent except in a few places. They
were, in Malay times, hunted like wild beasts, and
when captured enslaved by the Malays. At the
same time there seems to have been a certain amount
of intercourse kept up between the two races in the
shape of a traffic in jungle produce and tin ore, on
the one part, and knives, axes, cooking-pots, salt,
cloth, etc., on the other. A few isolated tribes are
1 I am not quite sure, however, Cp. also Montano (quoted by De
that some injustice is not done to the Quatrefages, pp. 226, 227): " M.
Malays in this particular respect, as Montano informs us that they never
Mr. Hale (p. 287), himself records make war on each other, and that the
instances in which articles were offered parents watch tenderly over their
to him by the Sakai at a ridiculously children, and will even when necessary
low valuation. deprive themselves of food on their
-2 Hale in y. .7. /. pp. 291, 292. account."