J AK UN. The wild tribes inhabiting the Malayan Peninsula, Sumatra, and a few of the neighbouring islands are divided into three principal classes, which are subdivided into many clans. The first of these divisions includes the Bhatta, who inhabit the interior of Sumatra and a few neighbouring islands. The second is that of the Semang, who are found in the forests of Kedah, Tringanu, Perak, and Salangor. The third division, the Jakun, comprise many tribes, who inhabit the south part of the Peninsula, from about Salangor on the west coast and Kemarnan on the east coast, and extend nearly as far as Singapore. All these various wild tribes are ordinarily classed under the general and expressive appellation of Orang Binua, meaning people of the soil. The Malays, in the 13th cen tury, had but a short time inhabited the Peninsula, since we are informed by the Sejara Malaya that Singapore is celebrated in Malayan history as having been the first place of settlement of the early Malay emigrants from Sumatra. In course of time the early Arab trading vessels brought over priests from Arabia, who made a number of converts to Muhammadanism, and those of the Orang Binua who declined to abjure the customs of their forefathers, .in consequence of the persecutions to which they were exposed, fled to the fastnesses of the interior, where they have since continued in a savage state. The principal localities of the Jakun are at • the upper extremity of the rivers of Johore, Banut, Batu Pahat, and Muar. Those of Malacca are gener ally as tall as the common run of Europeans; they are darker than any other of the wild tribes ; and in which respect there is not much difference between them and the darker of the Judo - Portuguese of Malacca. The Jakun of Johore are a fine race of men ; many of them are taller than those of Malacca ; the face also is expressive and well characterized, and the expres sion of the eyes in many of them is a little severe. Their nose does not recede at the upper part, neither is it so flat or so broad at its base as this organ is in the Chinese, Cochin-Chinese, and pure Malay. Several of them have aquiline
noses. Some children and young men are beauti ful. The women are plump, but not over stout. The Jakun of Menangkabau State are very short, their physiognomy is low, and seems to indicate great simplicity; many of them are ugly and badly made. A Jakun has always his spear, which is both a stick to walk with and an offen sive or defensive weapon. The parang, an iron blade of about 1 foot long and 2 or 3 inches broad, with a haft like that of a large knife, they use to cut trees.'peir marriages are ordinarily celebrated about the month of July and August, when fruits are plenti 1. Amongst some tribes there is a dance, in the i st of which the bride elect darts off into the for t, followed by the bridegroom. A chase ensue , during which, should the youth fall down or retu unsuccessful, he is met with the jeers and merri ent of the Whole party, and the match is declared off.
Adultery is punishable by death. It is not allowed to keep more than one wife. A man can divorce his wife and take another. In several tribes, children, so soon as born, are carried to the nearest rivulet, where they are washed, then brought back to the house, where a fire is kindled, incense of kamunian wood thrown upon it, and the child then passed over it several times. The practice of passing children over fire was in all times much practised among ancient heathen nations ; and it is even now followed in China and other places. When death occurs, the sumpitan, quiver of arrows, knife, etc., of the deceased are buried with him, along with some rice, water, and tobacco. They are candid and honest, extremely proud, and will not submit for any length of time to servile offices, or to much control. Each tribe is under an elder, chief, or leader, termed the Batin, who directs its move ments, and settles disputes. The Jakun hate the Malay, and the Malay despise the Jakun.