Jah Hut people

Jah Hut people
Jahut / Cheres

Location of Jah Hut language speakers as seen in the Peninsula Malaysia map.
Total population
(3,400)
Regions with significant populations
Pahang, Malaysia
Languages
Jah Hut language, Malay language
Religion
Animism (predominantly), Islam, Christianity
Related ethnic groups
Senoi

Jah Hut people are one of the Orang Asli tribes living in Pahang, Malaysia. As of 2000, the population of the Jah Hut people are 2,442 and by 2005, it is estimated that there are approximately 4,000 people living in 11 kampungs (villages) that are located along the west bank of the Pahang River from the north in Jerantut to the south in Temerloh, Pahang.

These 11 kampungs also includes Kampung Pos Penderas and Kampung Keboi which are situated in the tropical jungles of Jerantut, Pahang. Kampung Keboi is one of the smallest kampungs among the Jah Hut settlements with only about 100 people. The Jah Hut people lives in houses built on stilts, similar to of those Malay Houses.

Language

The language spoken by the Jah Hut people is known as Jah Hut language and it is recognized as part of the Mon-Khmer languages; of which is also a branch of the Austro-Asiatic languages. In the Jah Hut language, Jah means "people" and Hut means "not". However this literal translation does not bring any meaning to its name as the word "not people" is not the actual meaning of their name. According to the Jah Hut people, Jah means "people" and Hut means "different". The Jah Hut language itself have absorbed a lot of words from the Malay language into its vocabulary. Among the Jah Hut dialects includes Kerdau, Krau, Ketiar Krau (Terengganu), Kuala Tembeling, Pulau Guai, Ulu Ceres (Cheres), and Ulu Tembeling.

Economic activities

The main agricultural activities of the Jah Hut people are such as rubber tapping, rice cultivation and poultry. Wood carving activity is still being practiced and it is not only regarded as a source of income but also seen as a part of keeping their traditional faith alive. Although the Jah Hut people reside in the jungles, they are not entirely isolated to themselves but they have been trading with other nearby groups of people for hundreds of years.