MENTAWEI, a group of islands off the west coast of Sumatra, D.E. Indies. They include Siberut, Sipura and Pageh (Pagai), or Nassau. They are volcanic, and sunken coral reefs render them dangerous to approach. The islands generally are covered with thick forests. There are a few small rivers in Siberut. Pop. (1920), 8,310. The people are considered to be of Caucasian origin, probably related to the very early in digenous peoples of Sumatra, and pre-Batak. The Mentawei islanders have golden-brown skins, black hair, dark eyes, and broad and flat noses; the men are of middle height, the women short and thick-set. They tattoo and have a custom resembling one of Hawaii—wearing flowers in the hair and behind the ears. They have an inflexible moral code, knowing nothing of divorce and punishing adultery with death. The man is the head of his own family and marriage is either endogamic or exogamic. Polyg amy is not practised. Their religion is nature-worship, oblations being made in the forest to nature-spirits : they have no idols, nor temples, but are known to set up a bamboo cylinder in the forest and decorate it with scraps of cloth, leaves, and flowers, a rite which may be phallic in origin. They are governed by village
chiefs. Houses are of bamboo and atap on piles.
Although a peaceful folk amongst themselves, the Mentawei islanders carry arms, chiefly the bow, with poisoned arrows, and before Dutch influence became sufficiently assertive they were wont to raid neighbouring coasts, and even to attack small trad ing vessels. Agricultural development is at a low stage but they grow fruit, coco-nuts, sugar-cane and tobacco. They are keen hunters and fishers and Collect forest products. They are good boat-builders. The islanders are fond of feasts, accompanied by much drum-beating and dancing; their language resembles that of the Karo Bataks. No roads exist, nor is there any regular communication with the mainland. (E. E. L.)