ORDER Il. BIMANA. 375 
possessed themselves of the rest of the Sunda Isles of the Philippines, 
the Moluccas, and some of the Australian groups, where Malay tribes are 
found, resembling in their features, religion, and government the Malays 
of Malacca. At that time they acted a splendid part in Asia; they carried 
on commerce, in part with their own ships, and planted colonies. Great 
numbers of ships from China, Cochin China, Hindostan, and Siam filled the 
harbors of Malacca. 
They are now divided into distinct tribes, without any general head. 
This is partly owing to the superiority which the Europeans, particularly the 
Dutch, have obtained in the Indian Seas, and partly to the feudal system 
of the Malays, by which the national power has been divided, and a common 
spirit prevented by the increasing power ‘of the vassals. The superior vas- 
sals obey the sultan, or supreme commander, only when they please, and the 
vassals under them have similar liberty. The great body of the nation con- 
sists of slaves; their masters are the oramlai, or nobility, who are indepen- 
dent, and sell their services to him whe pays them best. The Malays are 
different from the Hindoos, Birmans, and Siamese. They are strong, ner- 
vous, and of a dark-brown color; their hair is long, black, and shining ; 
the nose large and flat; their eyes brilliant and full of fire. Impetuosity 
bordering on fury, treachery, impatience of constraint, love of plunder and 
blood, characterize the Malays of Asia. Those in the islands of Australia 
are, in general, more gentle, kind, affable, open and honest, and are distin- 
guished by the finest and most symmetrical persons. The Malays of Asia, 
including the Eidahans and Dejakkese, in Borneo; the Biajoos (one of the 
wildest tribes), and the Macassars, in Celebes; the Harafores, on the 
Moluceas; the Sabanos, in Magindanio; the Tagats and Pampangoes, in 
the Manillas; the Bisayans, in the lesser Philippines, have a remarkable 
resemblance in their features, in their form of government, —a sort of 
feudal system, —and in violence and cruelty. In general they profess the 
Mohammedan religion, are fond of navigation, war, plunder, change of 
place, and of all daring enterprises. ‘Besides the Koran, the Malays have 
various local laws; each’ state has its own, relating chiefly to commerce. 
The maritime code of Malacca was collected as early as 1276, and confirmed 
by Mohammed Shah, sultan of the country. They pay more respect to 
their absurd laws of honor than to justice or humanity; and we find force 
continually triumphing among them over weakness. Their treaties and 
their promises of friendship continue only as long as the interests which 
prompted them seem to demand. They are always armed, and are perpet- 
ually at war among themselves, or engaged in plundering their neighbors. 
When they find opportunity, they will attack European and American ves- 
sels by surprise, and kill the crews, if they succeed in capturing them. No 
