28 AFFECTION AND MANNERS. [1843. 



and held crossing over the breast, cowl fashion, and is 

 worn by both men and women. The ornaments dis- 

 played by the women are of brass, similar to those of 

 the men, but they are distinguished by wearing stays 

 formed by a continuous spiral band of rattan, which, 

 extending about a foot above the hips, presents a beaded 

 black band not unbecoming ; they also use a light jacket 

 composed of the same material as the sarong. 



During the period of our visit, the women were occu- 

 pied in drying rice upon a slight platform in front of their 

 houses ; they are well formed, and, with pleasing features, 

 are free from the shyness exhibited by the Malay ; of 

 their strength we had a convincing proof by witnessing 

 two girls not exceeding ten years of age, ascending the 

 steep hill we had laboured to surmount, with enormous 

 faggots on their backs. In one or two of the houses 

 visited, a considerable degree of neatness prevailed, for 

 this untutored tribe, and there was a manifestation of 

 domestic happiness among the younger couples, which 

 would not suffer if placed in competition with European 

 manners. They were much amused in examining our 

 dresses, and comparing them with textures of their own 

 manufacture ; it was plain, however, that the gilt buttons 

 of our uniform excited their greatest admiration, and we 

 returned home with the loss of not a few in consequence ; 

 as an example of their affection, however, I noticed the 

 ladies begged them only to adorn their husbands. 



During the afternoon we visited one of the minor 

 peaks of this mountain, whence we had a magnificent 

 view of the whole country, and complete outline of 

 the land from Tanjong Datu to the most eastern point, 



