Journal of the Indian Archipelago and Eastern Asia/Series 1/Volume 1/The Orang Biduanda Kallang
THE BIDUANDA KALLANG OF THE RIVER PULAI IN JOHORE.
The Pulái lies farthest to the west of all the rivers that fall in- to the Straits of Singapore from the Peninsula. It derives some geographical interest from its rising in Gunong Puláí, the most southerly mountain, and having its embouchure near Tanjong Bouro the most southerly point, of Asia.
Before the British obtained possession of Singapore, the Kálláng, which may be said to bound the present suburbs on the east, was the immemorial haunt of a small tribe who lived in boats, but avoid- ed the sea. Upon the cession of Singapore, they were removed by the Tamungong to the Pulái where they have remained ever since. They formerly consisted of about 100 families, occupying as many boats, but the ravages of the small pox have reduced the number to eight. They are fishermen and foresters, dividing their time between the two pursuits. They have small fishing stakes near the mouth of the river, which some of them visit in the morning. But they have so much dread of the sea that they do not venture to quit the river, and constantly proceed towards the interiour before night. When a strong breeze rises they drag their boats a shore. They never make huts. They collect forest produce for one of the Tamungong's Malays who has charge of them. They have a bo- mo or physician who sings to summon the hantus to give them medicine.
They do not cultivate any plants, their ancestors having made a vow for the race against forming ládángs, and they believe that if any of them were to break it death would be the consequence.
At child birth the mother drinks a decoction of the leaves of the bákáu that have fallen from the trees and float on the water, and the child a little of the expressed juice of the buáh káluna. For any swelling they bruize leaves of the báro and rub them over the part swollen. Cuts or wounds they rub with the juice of the akar lálé urát. For pain in the bowels they use ginger. For head ache, they drink the juice of the kayu kipíèlu ángín.
Previous to marriage the bridegroom provides himself with a boat of his own.
Corpses are wrapped in mats and buried. Upon the grave they place a cup of woman's milk, one of rice and one of water, and entreat the deceased not to seek anything more from them.
Polygamy and adultery are unknown. Widowers and widows do not marry a second time.
Persons of the same family cannot intermarry however remote the degree. But the traces of relationship must soon be lost.
Specimens of the rude chants will be given in speaking of the language.
Two of the men, Sawéng and Sángo, (fig. 6 is the profile of Sawéng) have very remarkable heads which depart greatly from the Binuá, Mintirá and Malay. The forehead is broader than the cheek bones, so as to give the face in front something of the shape of a pear. But in contrast with this unusual breadth is its extreme narrowness, the hair approaching to within less than 2 inches of the eyebrows.[1] The second remarkable characteristic consists in the entire absence of the prognathous form. The lower jaw indeed advances well so as to form a rather sharp chin, but instead of the upper jaw advancing, the whole face from the chin to the base of the brow appears as if it were flattened, so that when viewed in profile all the features seem to be placed on a straight line from which the prominent parts rise very slightly. The lips are comparatively thin, firm and not open, and the mouth small, presenting a great contrast to the gross, loose lips of the Mintirá. The under lip is slightly thrust out or pouting. The whole mouth instead of being sensual has a singular expression of good temper and even of serenity and sweetness. The eyebrows are horizontal so as to form parts of a straight line. The upper part of the body deviates no less strikingly from the ordinary Binua standard, the shoulders being wide and the waist comparatively narrow. The smallness of the head in proportion to the width of the shoulders is one of the marked peculiarities of the figures. The face in its peculiar flatness resembles the profile of a Siamese in the plate of eight national portraits contained in the second volume of Mr. Crawfurd's Embassy to Siam and Cochin China, and the extent to which the hair ad- vances on the forehead is another Siamese characteristic. The brow however is not a slight curve as in the profile of the Siamese, but advances from the face at a sharp angle. The line of the lower jaw also instead of extending back in a horizontal line and then rising nearly at a right angle to the car, proceeds in a direct slightly curved line to the car as in the second profile in Mr. Crawfurd's plate, that of a Chong.
Another of the Biduanda Kallang, Nanéng, (a remarkably strong built and powerful man) has the pyramidal or lozenge face in perfection, the cheek bones being more prominent than in most Binuá. He differs from them and the Mintirá in the absence of the prognathous form of the lower part of the face, in its being deeper, and in the angle of the chin, or that formed by lines drawn from it to the outward extremities of the cheek bones, being much more acute. This arises from the greater length of the lower jaw and its proceeding directly in a sloping or slightly curved line from the ear to the chin. The general character of his face is between the Malay and Siamese, but perhaps nearer the latter. The expression is much more Siamese than Malay.
All the faces are less lively, but at the same time less indolent, than those of the Mintirá, the general expression quiet, contented, pleasant, non-obtrusive, and for the rest blank. The outlines are less rounded, the skin harsher, and the eye more dull. The features of Sáwéng and Sángo have a pinched or compressed look. I never saw any Malay who resembled them.
The feet of the Kálláng are straighter and narrower than the Binuá, and the toes parallel instead of spreading.
- ↑ The lithographed profile of Saweng gives too great a height to the forehead.