The Semang are a Negrito ethnic group of the Malay Peninsula. Lowland Semang tribes are also known as Sakai.[1] They are probably the indigenous peoples of this area. They have been recorded to have lived here since before the 200s Common Era (CE). They are ethnologically described as nomadic hunter-gatherers.[2]
They are thought to be related to other Negritos, such as the natives of the Andaman Islands and the Aetas of the Philippines. Their languages, however, are Aslian, in the Mon-Khmer family.
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The men average about 153.6 cm (5ft ½in), while the women are 142.7 cm (4ft 8in).[2] Their color is a very dark brown or black. The shape of the head is round, or intermediate between round and long. The forehead is low and rounded, and projects over the root of the nose, which is short, depressed and pyramid-shaped. The eyes are often wide open and round, even at times showing no obliquity, the iris being of a very rich, deep brown. Lips vary from moderate to full, the mouth is rather large, and the jaws are often slightly projecting.
The hair is very dark-brown black, never blue-black as among Chinese and Malays. It grows in short, spiral tufts, curling closely all over the head.
The Semangs live in caves or leaf-shelters they form between branches. A waistcloth for the men, made of tree bark hammered out with a wooden mallet from the bark of the terap, a species of wild bread-fruit tree, and a short petticoat of the same for the women, is the only dress worn; many go naked.
Tattooing, or rather scarring, is practised. They draw the finely serrated edge of a sugarcane leaf across the skin and rub in charcoal powder.
They have bamboo musical instruments, a kind of Jew's harp, and a nose flute. On festive occasions, there is song and dance, both sexes decorating themselves with leaves.
The Semang bury their dead simply, and place food and drink in the grave.
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SEMANG, an aboriginal people of the Malay peninsula, found in northern Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, Trengganu and the northern districts of Pahang. They are a fairly pure branch of the woolly-haired Negrito race, which includes the natives of the Andaman islands, the Aetas of the Philippines and the dwarfs of Central Africa. The men average about 4 ft. 9 or to in., while the women are 31 in. shorter. Their colour is a very dark brown or black. The shape of the head is round, or intermediate between round and long. The forehead is low and rounded, and projects over the root of the nose, wl'ich is short, depressed and pyramid-shaped. The eyes are wide open and round, showing no obliquity, the iris being of a very rich, deep brown. Lips vary from moderate to full, the mouth is rather large, the chin feebly developed, and the jaws are often slightly projecting. The hair is very dark-brown black, never blue-black as among Chinese and Malays. It grows in short, spiral tufts, curling closely all over the head. The arm-stretch is almost always greater than their height. The feet are usually short and splayed, with a remarkable inward curve of the great toe, and are very prehensile. The Semangs live in caves or leaf-shelters formed between branches. A waistcloth for the men, made of tree bark hammered out with a wooden mallet from the bark of the terap, a species of wild bread-fruit tree, and a short petticoat of the same for the women, is the only dress worn; many go naked. Tattooing, or rather scarring, is practised, by drawing the finely serrated edge of a sugar-cane leaf across the skin and rubbing in charcoal powder. They have bamboo musical instruments, a kind of Jews' harp and a nose flute. On festive occasions there is song and dance, both sexes decorating themselves with leaves. The Semangs bury their dead simply, food and drink being placed in the grave.
Categories: SEE-SER | Ethnic groups of Asia
   | The Negrito of Thailand - 35. The Negrito of Thailand |
| | Unraveling Lowland Semang - JSTOR: An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie |
| | Malayan Paleosociology: Implications for Patterns of Genetic Variation among the Orang Asli - JSTOR: An Error Occurred Setting Your User Cookie |
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