198. ON THE LANGUAGES AND LITERATURE 



EjA ! object of my secret affection, be not easily moved to grieve, 

 Whatever news arrive from the battle, till you see 

 My kris Raja rum/itt taken from my girdle, but then grieve for the dead— 

 . ^There are three prohibitions in my bet?l-box, with which you must 



conform : 

 They are wrapt up in the folds of the betel leaf, — talk not in the time of 



action 



Loiter not idly within your tent — skulk not as you advance on the foe. 



The Mungkdsar poetry is characterized by the 

 same features as the Biigis, and their national wars 

 with the Dutch is said to be a favourite topic among 

 the poets of that race. The following specimen, 

 which is a poetical challenge, alludes to the diver- 

 sion of cock-lighting, the favourite amusement of 

 the nation. 



Kerimi jangang riwaya blja jangang sundawa 



Niamiunn^ bungasa tinumbukk^ya 



Eukki tonja kontasilla puna innukke nuruntu 



Tinumbukk^ya bira eyapun nisillung. 

 Where is that courageous cock, that true gamp-cpck, trained to combat— 



For here is his match, full of youthful spirit, yet unconquered 



Let him then enter the lists with me, if he would be conquered ; 

 Hitherto invincible, if I am ever conquered, it will be now— — 



IV. BiMA. — The Bima language is used in the iii- 

 dependent state of Bima, which includes the eastern 

 part oi' Sutnbawa, and the western part of the island 

 Ende, which was childishly denominated Florcs, by 

 the early Portuguezc navigators ; and, after them, by 

 succeeding voyagers and geographers. If my infor- 

 mation is correct, the Bima language exte^nds over 

 the greater part of the island Endt. The. Bima lan- 

 guage is related in some respects to Bugis and Java- 

 nese, and on the coast is mixed with Malayu ; but 

 nevertheless it has strong pretetisions to originality in 

 its pronouns, verbal auxiliaries, and simple names of 



