men remembered any of the words of their fast disappearing language.[1]
These I have shewn to several Malays who know their own language well. All declare that they are not Malay words; I, myself, am incompetent to decide this question, and, I should like therefore, to hear your opinion, as this may be of great importance in its bearing upon the question of the origin of these vanishing tribes.
Purely anthropological observations and considerations lead me to accept the supposition of a Melanesian element (a remnant of the original race) which, through intermixture with the Malays, is being more and more supplanted.
Three words in this Vocabulary[2] I find similar to three in my notices of the Papuan dialects, Dak (Sea), Koi (Head), Tal (Hut).
This similarity struck me as curious but I must point out clearly that from this circumstance no further positive conclusion can be drawn.
If the old language be not quite forgotten or lost, we have to thank a superstition which has favored its retention. A belief prevails that people who visit the camphor trees in the jungle in on the search for camphor, must always use the old tongue if they are to be successful in their search. If they speak Malay, the tree will either disappear before their eyes, or their eyes, will become incapable of seeing the it. For this reason the dialect is also called the "Bhâsa Kâpor" or the "Camphor language!" Some of the Malays who live in the jungle, endeavour on account of this superstition to learn the "Camphor language.[3]
It it not difficult to explain how this superstition arose. It is certain that the old stock of the race, who lived a roving life in the jungle, were peculiarly qualified to appropriate the jungle produce. Later on, when the primitive race mingled with the
- ↑ Thus for example, the numerals of the langage of the Orang Rayet of Palong (tributary of the River Moar) were only known by one very old man, and by him only up to 4; none of his tribe companions knew even these. The old man further explained that in earlier days he knew the other Numerals also, but he had now forgotten them. Most of the young people satisfied themselves with the declaration that "the elders knew the old tongues, but they only spoke Malay."
- ↑ Dak, used to express "Sea" by the Papuans of Mt. Limai in the island of Lüçon which I visited in 1873.Koi and Ooi meaning" head," also in use among the Papuans of Mt. Limui.Tal’—"House," used by the Papuans of the Maclay-Coast in New-Guinea.
- ↑ Mr. Logan also refers to the "Camphor Language" in his description of these Tribes (I.A. Journal vol. 1. p. 263), but his account of the matter is a little different, and suggests a comparison with the "Krama," or ceremonial language of Java. He says:
