PEOPLE OF SARAWAK. 137 



Malays, whose manners are rendered attractive by 

 a natural courtesy quite unknown to the lower orders 

 of Europeans : excepting in places where their inter- 

 course with foreigners has corrupted them, as in 

 Bruni and Sambas, an impertinent person is unknown. 

 Europeans visiting these countries are frequently 

 astonished at the elegant manners and dignified 

 bearing of the higher classes of Malays. The late 

 lamented Pangeran Bed-er-ed-din displayed an air and 

 carriage which would have adorned an European 

 prince ; and the gentlemen who had opportunities 

 of seeing him, delight in recounting anecdotes of the 

 high generosity and considerate feeling which occurred 

 in their intercourse with him. 



From what has been said of the character of the 

 people of Sarawak and the west coast of Borneo 

 generally, with the exception of those in the imme- 

 diate vicinity, and under the influence of the de- 

 bauched natives of the capital, it will be easily seen 

 how susceptible their condition is of improvement, and 

 with what facility they may be brought to become 

 useful members of society under the influence of a 

 good government. The reader will also notice, that 

 the terms of treacherous, and other equally abusive 

 epithets, are no more applicable to them than we may 

 suppose they would be to European nations in cir- 

 cumstances when, reduced by oppression, they could 

 not revenge themselves by open and honest means. 

 Though the natives of Sarawak are quiet, and accord- 

 ingly easily governed, it is not to be supposed that on 



