OP KELANTAN 139 



For me the Malay has an attractive personality. 

 Wherever I found him, from Singapore to Keda, 

 on my several trips at intervals into the Peninsula, 

 he was very rarely the bloodthirsty, sullen, silent 

 creature of which we have had so often the pen 

 picture. He is, to be sure, thriftless, indolent, 

 unambitious; but he is polite, good-natured, con- 

 tented ; and I am not so sure that those last thr^e 

 qualities do not make the more human and lovable 

 fellow being. Above all else, and the quality 

 which appealed most strongly to me— the Malay is 

 intensely self-respecting; he is absolutely sure of 

 himself and at ease always whatever the company. 

 He is reserved, self-contained, and never by any 

 chance falls a victim to the contempt bred of 

 familiarity. He resents insult so strongly that 

 bloodshed may result; but between themselves 

 much serious trouble usually is due to jealousy, 

 though for Mohammedans they allow their women 

 much liberty. 



Like our American Redman, the Malay is delib- 

 erate of speech and circuitous in introducing the 

 subjects which perhaps may be uppermost in his 

 mind; and he is not demonstrative. He walks 

 erect, and he looks you in the eye— a very pleasing 

 quality when you have had to deal with the cring- 

 ing inhabitants of Par Eastern countries. Though 

 he offers no obstacle, yet the Malay holds in con- 



