第 4 节
作者:无边的寒冷      更新:2021-03-11 18:28      字数:9321
  Peninsula was peopled by a Malay emigration from Sumatra about the
  middle of the twelfth century; and that the descendants of these
  colonists settled Malacca and other places on the coast about a century
  later。 Tradition refers the peopling of the interior States to another
  and later migration from Sumatra; with a chief at its head; who; with
  all his followers; married Aboriginal wives; the Aboriginal tribes
  retreating into the jungles and mountains as the Malays spread
  themselves over the region now known as the States of the Negri
  Sembilan。 The conquest or colonization of the Malay Peninsula by the
  Malays is not; however; properly speaking; matter of history; and the
  origin of the Malay race and its early history are only matters of more
  or less reasonable hypothesis。 It is fair; however; to presume that
  Sumatra was the ancient seat of the race; and the wonderful valley of
  Menangkabau; surrounded by mountains ten thousand feet in height; that
  of its earliest civilization。 The only Malay 〃colonial〃 kingdoms on the
  Peninsula which ever attained any importance were those of Malacca and
  Johore; and even their reliable history begins with the arrival of the
  Portuguese。 The conversion of the Sumatra Malays to Mohammedanism arose
  mainly out of their commercial intercourse with Arabia; it was slow;
  not violent; and is supposed to have begun in the thirteenth century。
  A population of 〃Wild Tribes;〃 variously estimated at from eight
  thousand to eleven thousand souls; is still found in the Peninsula; and
  even if research should eventually prove them not to be its Aborigines;
  they are; without doubt; the same races which were found inhabiting it
  by the earliest Malay colonists。
  These are frequently called by the Malays 〃Orang Benua;〃 or 〃men of the
  country;〃 but they are likewise called 〃Orang…outang;〃 the name which
  we apply to the big ape of Borneo。  The accompanying engraving
  represents very faithfully the 〃Orang…outang〃 of the interior。 The few
  accounts given of the wild tribes vary considerably; but apparently
  they may be divided into two classes; the Samangs; or Oriental Negroes
  or Negritos and the Orang Benua; frequently called Jakuns; and in Perak
  Sakei。 By the Malays they are called indiscriminately Kafirs or
  infidels; and are interesting to them only in so far as they can use
  them for bearing burdens; clearing jungle; procuring gutta; and in
  child…stealing; an abominable Malay custom; which; it is hoped; has
  received its death…blow in Perak at least。
  The Samangs are about the same height as the Malays; but their hair;
  instead of being lank and straight like theirs; is short and curly;
  though not woolly like that of the African negro; and their
  complexions; or rather skins; are of a dark brown; nearly black。 Their
  noses; it is said; incline to be flat; their foreheads recede; and
  their lips are thick。 They live in rude and easily removable huts made
  of leaves and branches; subsist on jungle birds; beasts; roots; and
  fruits; and wear a scanty covering made from the inner bark of a
  species of Artocarpus。 They are expert hunters; and have most ingenious
  methods of capturing both the elephant and the 〃recluse rhinoceros。〃
  They are divided into tribes; which are ruled by chiefs on the
  patriarchal system。 Of their customs and beliefs; if they have any;
  almost nothing is known。 They are singularly shy; and shun intercourse
  with men of other races。 It has been supposed that they worship the
  sun。
  The Orang Benua or Orang…outang; frequently called Sakeis or Jakuns;
  consist of various tribes with different names; thinly scattered among
  the forests of the chain of mountains which runs down the middle of the
  Peninsula from Kedah to Point Romania。* In appearance and color they
  greatly resemble the Malays; and there is a very strong general
  resemblance between their dialects and pure Malayan。 They have
  remarkably bright and expressive eyes; with nothing Mongolian about
  their internal angles; and the forehead is low rather than receding。
  The mouth is wide and the lips are large; the lower part of the face
  projects; the nose is small; the nostrils are divergent; and the cheek
  bones are prominent。 The hair is black; but it often looks rusty or
  tawny from exposure to the sun; against which it is their only
  protection。 It is very abundant and long; and usually matted and curly;
  but not woolly。 They have broad chests and very sturdy muscular limbs。
  They are; however; much shorter in stature than the Malays; the men in
  some of the tribes rarely exceeding four feet eight inches in height;
  and the women four feet four。 Their clothing consists of a bark cloth
  waist…cloth。 Some of the tribes live in huts of the most primitive
  description supported on posts; while others; often spoken of as the
  〃tree people;〃 build wigwams on platforms; mainly supported by the
  forking branches of trees; at a height of from twenty to thirty feet。
  These wild people; says Mr。 Daly; lead a gregarious life; rarely
  remaining long in one place for fear of their wives and children being
  kidnapped by the Malays。 They fly at the approach of strangers。 As a
  rule; their life is nomadic; and they live by hunting; fishing; and on
  jungle fruits。 They are divided into tribes governed by elders。 They
  reverence the sun; but have no form of worship; and are believed to be
  destitute of even the most rudimentary ideas of religion。 Their weapon
  is the sumpitan; a blow…gun; from which poisoned arrows are expelled。
  They have no ceremonies at birth; marriage; or death。 They are
  monogamists; and; according to Mr。 Syers; extremely affectionate。 One
  of their strongest emotions is fear; and their timidity is so great
  that they frequently leave the gutta which they have collected at the
  foot of the tree; not daring to encounter the trader from whom they
  expect some articles in exchange; while the fear of ridicule; according
  to Mr。 Maxwell; keeps them far from the haunts of the Malays。
  '*I was so fortunate as to see two adult male Jakuns and one female; but
  my information respecting them is derived chiefly from Mr。 Syers;
  Superintendent of Police in Selangor; and from Mr。 Maxwell; the
  Assistant…Resident in Perak。'
  The Rayet; or Orang Laut; 〃subjects;〃 or men of the sea; inhabit the
  coast and the small islets off the coast; erecting temporary sheds when
  they go ashore to build boats; mend nets; or collect gum dammar and
  wood oil; but usually living in their boats。 They differ little from
  the Malays; who; however; they look down upon as an inferior race;
  except that they are darker and more uncouth looking。  They have no
  religious (!) beliefs but in the influence of evil spirits; to whom at
  times they perform a few propitiatory rites。 Many of them become
  Mohammedans。 They live almost entirely upon fish。 They are altogether
  restless and impatient of control; but; unlike some savages; are
  passionately fond of music; and are most ingenious in handicrafts;
  specially in boat…building。
  The Chinese in the Peninsula and on the small islands of Singapore and
  Pinang are estimated at two hundred and forty thousand; and their
  numbers are rapidly increasing; owing to direct immigration from China。
  It is by their capital; industry; and enterprise that the resources of
  the Peninsula are being developed。 The date of their arrival is
  unknown; but the Portuguese found them at Malacca more than three
  centuries ago。 They have been settled in Pinang and Singapore for
  ninety…three and sixty…three years respectively; but except that they
  have given up the barbarous custom of crushing the feet of girls; they
  are; in customs; dress; and habits; the exact counterparts of the
  Chinese of Canton or Amoy。 Many of them have become converts to
  Christianity; but this has not led to the discarding of their queues or
  national costume。 The Chinese who are born in the Straits are called
  Babas。 The immigrant Chinese; who are called Sinkehs; are much despised
  by the Babas; who glory specially in being British…born subjects。  The
  Chinese promise to be in some sort the commercial rulers of the
  Straits。
  The Malays proper inhabit the Malay Peninsula; and almost all the coast
  regions of Borneo and Sumatra。 They all speak more or less purely the
  Malay language; they are all Mohammedans; and they all write in the
  Arabic character。  Their color is a lightish; olive…tinted; reddish
  brown。  Their hair is invariably black; straight; and coarse; and their
  faces and bodies are nearly hairless。 They have broad and slightly flat
  faces; with high cheek bones; wide mouths; with broad and shapely lips;
  well formed chins; low foreheads; black eyes; oblique; but not nearly
  so much so as those of the Chinese; and smallish noses; with broad and
  very open nostrils。 They vary little in their height; which is below
  that of the average European。 Their frames are lithe and robust; their
  chests are broad; their hands are small and refined; and their feet are
  thick and short。 The men are not handsome; and the women are decidedly
  ugly。  Both sexes look old very early。
  The Malays undoubtedly must be numbered among civilized peoples。 They
  live in houses which are more or less tasteful and secluded。 They are
  well clothed in garments