第 4 节
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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