APPEARANCE OF THE INHABITANTS. 81 



tain but few auxiliaries to domestic comfort, 

 present a naked and gloomy appearance. 



The population is a very unprepossessing Ma- 

 lay race, with a dingy soot-black complexion. 

 The men are short in stature, small-boned, and 

 meagre ; their countenances, naturally haggard 

 and ferocious, being rendered yet more unsightly 

 by long and tangled locks of coarse black hair, 

 and mouths stained red with the betel-nut. We 

 found them reserved and apathetic, and, although 

 avaricious, honest and punctual in their dealings. 

 The women are but little superior to the men in 

 personal attractions, and, preserving the usual 

 inferiority in size which characterises the female 

 sex, are almost infantine in stature, and re- 

 markably slender-limbed. They are laborious, 

 very subservient to the men, decorous and re- 

 tiring in their behaviour to strangers, and main- 

 tain a proper moral distinction between the 

 virtuous and profligate of their sex. 



The ordinary male dress seldom exceeds a 

 piece of cloth worn round the loins, and a hand- 

 kerchief covering the head. On ceremonial 

 occasions, however, the higher ranks assume an 

 attire composed of a kind of petticoat, (sarong,) 

 fastened by a girdle or sash ; a tight vest 

 (budju) ; and a scarf (llpa) ; the whole con- 

 structed of a strong, neatly-woven cloth, varie- 



VOL. II. G 



