THE MALAY CHARACTER. 127 



burial-place at Sarawak is kept in better repair, 

 and the graves have various attentions shown them, 

 being frequently planted with flowers ; of these the 

 pinang appears to be the most esteemed. I have 

 never seen the bufiga kamboja in such situations, 

 though it is so commonly employed for this purpose in 

 other Malayan countries. 



The Malays, natives of the western coast of Borneo, 

 do not practise many of the vices for which their 

 nation in general has become so famous. In their 

 character they are a mild and quiet people, devoid of 

 the cunning and treachery of the natives of Sumatra, 

 whom the dissolute inhabitants of the capital more 

 nearly resemble. They are not, like the inhabitants of 

 the piratical states, fond of desperate adventure, and 

 not being possessed of a great share of physical 

 courage, and their tastes inclining them to follow the 

 more peaceful pursuits of trade, under a government 

 which will encourage commerce, they live happy and 

 contented. In capacity the Malays are probably not 

 inferior to any of the nations of Europe, and in their 

 trading expeditions, and other intercourse with 

 foreigners of several nations, particularly the Chinese, 

 their ability in managing their affairs protects them 

 from the frauds which are constantly attempted by 

 these unscrupulous traders. 



In the government of Sarawak Mr. Brooke has 

 generally found the view of a political question 

 taken by the principal natives and chiefs to be the 

 most sound and profitable which, under the circum- 

 stances, could be adopted. Piracy, which is con- 



