Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

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568 DEALINGS WITH OTHER RACES part ii
asked why they always used to run away before the
gunboat, their simple reply was, that they were afraid
they would be carried off to Gallang, a place noted
for the fierceness of its pirates, of whom they bore a
great dread.
On likenesses of two of them being taken (those
of a man and a woman), the man sat with great steadi-
ness and composure, and seemed perfectly aware of
the meaning of the process. When the sketch was
completed and shown to him it elicited a slight smile.
With the other subject, however, considerable difficulty
was encountered. She at first hid her face beneath
her shaggy matted locks that strayed in wild abund-
ance over her shoulders, and would only now and
then venture a glance at the operations of the pencil.
No persuasions would induce her to show her face,
till at last her young child was given her, when she
took up a position natural to a mother, and the sketch
was accordingly soon completed."
Orang Laut Sabimba.—Thomson describes theOrang
Sabimba as forest nomads, possessing no boats or
canoes, even of the simplest construction, and as regarding
the water " with a degree of terror." ^ To
this he adds that they show a great detestation of
the Chinese, removing always from their vicinity.
Elsewhere we are informed that their personal
appearance is, to say the least, pleasing ; the well-
formed features of the young and the contented
placidity of countenance of the old seem at once to
show them to be an improvable race. Unshackled with
the dogmas of Islam, and child-like in their perception
'
J. I. A. vol. i. pp. 341*, 342*. - Ibid. p. 342*.
3 Ibid. p. 347*. This statement, however, is evidently due to some mis-
apprehension.