Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

I THE SAKAI PROBLEM 29
Strongly contrasted that their separation is not a
very difficult matter. The existence of a separate
Sakai type had long been suspected, and theories
to this effect had been more than once promulgated
(first, I believe, by Clifford), but the honour of
proving the fact by scientific demonstration and
measurements has fallen to Germany in the person
of Professor Rudolf Martin, of Zurich, who has made
a careful study of the Senoi tribe, and in his recent
pamphlet on the relationship of these tribes has pointed
out the need for isolating the second element in this
complex racial problem.^ With this fact well established,
the Sakai problem has entered upon a new
phase, the most burning question connected with it at
present being that of the probable relationship of the
Sakai to certain races in the same region who are to
some extent of a similar habitus.
Briefly, it may be said that two alternative theories
now hold the field. One of these theories, which has
recently been advanced by P. W. Schmidt in his
brilliant paper in the Bijdragen, seeks to identify the
Sakai with certain tribes of Mon - Annam origin.
His argument is based partly upon the admitted
linguistic affinity between the Sakai dialects and
those of the Mon-Annam family, and partly upon
an old description by Thorel ^— (i) of the Annamese ;
(2) of the Cambojans or Khmers;^ and {3) of
the wild tribes of the interior of Camboja (Stieng,
Bahnar, Sedang, etc.). Linguistic evidence, how-
^ The scientific proof of the state- - Bijdragen, etc., 1 901. No. ^2
merits made in the pamphlet has ap- (6 Volgr. deel 8), pp. 399-583.
jjeared in Professor Martin's larger work, '^ Voyage iPExploration en Indowhich
was published by Gustav Fischer Chine: Gamier, Paris, 1873, vol. ii.
at Jena in the course of the current year p. 2S9 seqi].
(I905),and which isentitled/>';> /«/a;;a'- ' L.c. p. 2