CH. VI.] 



Annual Games. 



131 



vagaries, however, he was a sleek and loveable creature ; 

 and I once saw the little daughter of the Doctor's Malay- 

 syce or groom lift up one of his hind legs when in the 

 stable, at the same time telling her little group of dusky 

 playfellows how very vicious he was (eine kudah jahat — 

 jahat banyiak skali, etu lah !). " Joseph " was the 

 swiftest animal in the island, and rigorously excluded 



SECTION OF ITS NEST. 



from competing at the races held on the plain by the 

 shore every New Year's Day. These annual races and 

 sports are much appreciated both by Europeans and 

 natives, and they afford the only general holiday in which 

 both natives and Europeans mingle during the year. 



The native canoe races in the harbour are a speciality, 

 the Malays and Brunei men being here seen in their 

 native element. The "tug of war " between Malays and 

 Chinese is also an amusing feature, while all are inte- 

 rested in the performance of the ponies and in the 



K 2 



