The Present Condition of the Indian Archipelago. 359 



theii- houses through the harbour of Pinang and down the Straits of 

 Malacca to the southward, were recently discovered by the Dutch 

 authorities living in a state of slavery, and restored to their homes. 

 But the ordinary abodes of the pirates themselves are not always at 

 a distance from the European settlements. As the thug of Bengal 

 is only known in his own village as a peaceful peasant, so the pirate, 

 when not absent on an expedition, appears ^n the river, and alono- 

 the shores and islands of Singapoi'e, as an honest boatman or fisherman. 



When we turn from this brief review of the industry of the Ar- 

 chipelago, and its great internal enemy, to the personal and social 

 condition of the inhabitants, we are struck by the mixture of simpli- 

 city and art, of rudeness and refinement, which chai*acterises all the 

 principal nations. No European has ever entered into free and 

 kindly intercourse with them, without bemg much more impressed 

 by their virtues than their faults. They contrast most favourably 

 with the Chinese and the Klings in their moral characters ; and al- 

 though they do not, like those pliant races, readily adapt themselves 

 to the requirements of foreigners, in their proper sphere they are 

 intelligent, shrewd, active, and, when need is, laborious. Comparing 

 them even with the general condition of many civiHzed nations of far 

 higher pretensions, our estimate must be favourable. Their man- 

 ners are distinguished by a mixture of courtesy and freedom which 

 is very attractive. Even the poorest while frank are well bred, 

 and, excluding the communities that are corrupted by piracy, or a 

 mixture with European seaman and low Chinese and Khngs, we 

 never see an impudent air, an insolent look, or any exhibition of im- 

 modesty, or hear coarse, abusive, or indecent language. In their 

 mutual intercourse they are respectful, and, while good-humoured 

 and open, habitually reflective and considerate. They are much 

 given to amusements of various kinds, fond of music, poetry, and 

 romances ; and in their common conversation addicted to sententious 

 remarks, proverbs, and metrical sentiments or allusions. To the 

 first impression of the European, the inhabitants, like the vegetation 

 and animals of the Archipelago, are altogether strange ; because the 

 characteristics in which they differ from those to which M-e are habi- 

 tuated, afl*ect the senses more vividly than those in which they agree. 

 For a time the colour, features, dress, manners, and habits which we 

 see, and the languages which we hear, are those of a new world. But 

 with the fresh charms, the exaggerated impressions also of novelty 

 wear away ; and then, retracing our steps, we wonder that people 

 so widely separated from the nations of the west, both geographically 

 and historically, and really differing so much in their outward aspect, 

 should, in their more latent traits, so much resemble them. The 

 nearer we come to the inner spirit of humanity, the more points of 

 agreement appear, and this not merely in the possession ot the uni- 

 versal attributes of human nature, but in specific habits, usages, and 

 buperstitions. 



What at first ecoms stranger still is, that when wo seek the native 



