CHARACTERS. 



in 



for It. I then sharpened to a point 

 a cock's gaif, or spur, and bled 

 him. 



He, and those about him were at 

 first much alarmed at the sight of 

 the blood; but 1 encouraged them, 

 and after bleeding hin), and taking a 

 pound of blood, 1 loosened his ban- 

 dage, and bound up the wound, or- 

 dering him to remain quiet for two 

 or three days. He found himself 

 much better the next day, and want- 

 ed to go to work, but I would not 

 permit him. In two days his head 

 was less heated, and he went to 

 work as usual. 



Afterwards many patients applied 

 to me, but I did not choose to lose 

 the reputation of curing a young 

 l)riest, or run the risk of my life. I 

 therefore left off practice, and would 

 bleed no more. 



The Malays have a notion, that if 

 a man can eat when he is sick, he 

 will recover ; if not, that he will 

 die, I, however, saw two or three 

 men, who were wounded in the bat- 

 tle of Dungally, eat very heartily 

 of rice, but who did not recover. 



The natives balhe twice a day in 

 fresh water rivers. This is, however, 

 sometimes dangerous, on account of 

 alligators, which infest the whole 

 coast, and frequent the mouths of 

 rivers. 



The women bathe twice a day, 

 once in the morning, immediately 

 after rising. When bathed, the 

 hair is put up in a smooth manner ; 

 they then pick a liowei^ or sprig of 

 •ome kind, which they fasten on the 

 top of tlie head : they also gather 

 two little blossoms of flowers just 

 in bloom, and put them in their cars, 

 through the holes where they wear 

 their ear-rings. This is the dress of 

 the day, and they reckon it a token 

 'if good luck. 



When the rajah's wife goes to 

 bathe, she is attended by four or 

 five respectable women of the place; 

 and she never appears in public but 

 with these attendants. 



It is the custom for women to 

 bathe the second day after they are 

 delivered ; but they prefer salt water 

 to fresh. 



They are fond of colour?:, and 

 love those that are strong, bright, 

 and gaudy ; such as red and yellow. 

 They have the art of dyeing, and set 

 their colours very well, but do not 

 expose them to much wet. 



They make cotton cloths, which 

 they weave ; and they are very 

 good and strong. Cotton grows ia 

 great abundance, which they clean 

 by a kind of turning machine, and 

 do it very well. 



Government, Wars, Sivearing of AL 

 Icgiance, Punishments, 'and Shi,- 

 Tcrjj. 



Amongst these people the govern- 

 ment is arbitrary. There is on« 

 head rajah, Avho rules over many 

 others. IJe resides ia a house which 

 stands separately from any other 

 building. Near it is his judgment 

 seat, where he spends the greater 

 part of the day ; and all who hava 

 business with him apply there. 

 When a rajah dies, his oldest sou 

 succeeds him. Any one desirous of 

 speaking with the head rajah, must 

 go to his judgment seat : on ap- 

 proaching it, the person squats down 

 and makes his obedience, which is 

 done by putting both his hands to- 

 gether, and then carrying them up 

 to his forehead. The rajah then 

 asks him his business, which he de- 

 livers. 



'i he rajahs are dressed in what 



they 



