SEMANG is a Malay word, applied by the Muhammadans of Kedah, Perak, Tringapu, and Salangore to the pagan tribes of the interior. The Paya reside or, the plains or borders of morasses ; the Seroang Bukit on the hills ; the Semang Bakow frequent the sea-shore, and occasionally in the mangrove jungles ; and the Semang Bila have been somewhat reclaimed from their.savage habits. According to Mr. Earl, the Sernang are a woolly haired race, aud a mere remnant of tribes which, according to native tradition, occupied a consider able portion of the interior of the Peninsula at a comparatively recent period. At the present time the race is only known to exist on the mountain Jerei in the Kedah territory, a little to the north of Penang, in the neighbourhood of the mountain range which lies immediately opposite to the latter settlement, and in the uplands of Trineanu, on the east coast of the Peninsula. The Sak and Alias tribes of Perak have hitherto been classed with the Semang, or woolly-haired race of the neigh bourhood of Penang, have curly but not woolly hair, and they retain the Papuan custom of boring the septum of the nose, and also mark their skins with cicatrices, but their language and leading characteristics would show them to be wild tribes of the Malayan race. The Semang, however, who are identical in every particular with the Pangan of the interior of Tringanu, are Papna,ns in all their purity, with woolly and tufted hair in every respect similar to other unmixed tribes of the race. The Semang of Kedah have been described by Mr. Anderson in the fourth number of the Journal of the Indian Archipelago. Of the origin of the Semang race, the Malays possess no tradition. Certain it is, however, that the tribes of them which inhabited various parts on both sides of the Peninsula were much more numerous before many of the present Malayan colonies were founded by emigrants from Sumatra. A similar race of people are said to have formerly inhabited all the islands of the Archipelago, and nations and rem nants of them, under the names Al'eta, Acta, Negrito, and Papua, occupy, or are still to be found on, many of them.
In the remoter portions of Asianesia, some of the black tribes possess all the traits of the Guinea Negro, but the Semang and the Mincopi of the Andamans appear, like the greater number of the Asianesian Negro tribes, to have been partially modified by mixture with other races. This is certainly the case with the Setnang, some of whom are Australo-Tamilian iv appearance, while others differ little, save in their frizzled or spiral hair and dark complexion, from some of the adjacent Binua.
The average height of the adults of a party of Semang Bukit on the Ijan, a feeder of the Krian, was 4 feet 8 inches, the highest 4 feet 10 inches. Head small, ridged, that is, rising above the forehead in an obtuse wedge shape, the back rounded and markedly narrower than the zygo matic or middle zone ; the face generally narrower and smaller than the Malay ; eyebrows very prominent, standing out front the forehead and projecting over the ocular furrow, which extends across the face, the root of the nose sinking into it and forming, a deep angle with the base of the superciliary ridge. The no-se short and somewhat sharp at the point, and often turned up, but the alm spreading. Eyes fine, middle-sized, and straight ; iris large, piercing conjunctive mem brane yellow ; the upper eyelashes, owing to the deep ocular depression or prominent ridges are compressed or folded, the roots of the hair being hidden. The cheek-bones generally broad, leut in some cases not remarkably prominent, save with reference to the narrow fotehead. Mouth large
or wide, but lips not thick or projecting; the lower part of the face oval or round, but not square. The deep depression at the eyes and sinking in at the root of the nose give a very remarkable character to the head, compared with the Malay. The projecting brow is in a vertical line with the nose, mouth, and chin, and the upper jaw is not projecting or prognathous. The person is slender, the belly protuberant, owing to their animal life in the jungle and precarious footl. This induces thein to min themselves whenever they can, and the skin of the abdomen thus becomes flaccid and expansible like that of an ape. The skin generally is fine and soft, although often disfigured by scurf ; and the colour is a dark brown, but in some cases lighter and approach ing to the Malay. The more exposed hordes are black. The Semang of Tringann are not of such a jet-black, glossy colour as the Kedah tribe. The hair is spiral, not woolly, and grows thickly on the head in tufts. They have thick moustaches, the growth being much stronger than in the Malay race. The head is neither Mongolian, nor Negro of the Guinea type ; it is Papua-Tamilian. The expression of the face is mild, I I 13.111p.e, and stupid. The voice is soft, low, nasal, and hollow or cerebral. A line of tattooing extends from the forehead to the cheek-bones. The adjacent 13inua also tattoo. The practice is Indian, among the Koncls, higher Abor tribes, etc., also Ultra-Iudian and Asianesian. The right car LS pierced, the orifice being large. The hair is cropped, save a ring or fringe round the forehead. The Semang of Perak resembles those of Kedah in personal appearance, but speak a different dialect. They possess the same curling black hair, are a little darker in colour, and have not the thick lips of an African.
The Semang eat elephants, rhinoceros, monkeys, and rats. They are very expert with the sum pitan, a blow-pipe for projecting small darts, and poison the darts with ipoli, procured from the juices of various trees. It is seldom they suffer by beasts of prey, as they aro extremely sharp sighted, and as agile in ascending the trees as the inonkeys. Elephants descend a hill usually at a slow pace, plucking the branches as they move along, and while the hind legs aro lifted up, the Semang, cautiously approaching behind, drives a sharp-pointed bamboo or a piece of nibong, which has been previously well hardened in the fire and touched with poison, into the sole of the elephant's foot with all his force, which effectually !runes the animal, and most commonly causes him to fall, when the whole party rush upon him with spears and sharp-pointed sticks, and soon despatch him. t I3adak Aapa,' the recluse rhinoceros, towards the close of the rainy season, are said to bury them selves in the marsh, and upon the dry weather setting in, the mud becomes hard and crusted, and the rhinoceros cannot effect its escape with out considerable difficulty and exertion. The Semang prepare themselves with large quantities of combustible materials, milli which they quietly approach the animal, who is aroused from his reverie by au immense fire over him, which being kept well supplied by the Semang with fresh fuel, soon completes his destruction, and renders him in a fit state to make a meal of. The projecting horn on the anout is carefully preserved, being supposed to be possessed of medicinal properties, and highly prized by the Malays, to whom they barter it for their tobacco, etc.—Logan, Jour. Ind. Archipelago, iv. p. 427 ; Earl's Indian Archi pelago ; Newbold's British Settlement, ii. pp. 30, 370.