Almost a Tragedy. 101 
Suddenly there was a cry of “ Amok!” and I saw Chat start forward in the 
direction of the woman. His drawn kris was in his hand, and his eyes were roll- 
ingin frenzy. Ina moment all was changed, and pandemonium reigned supreme. 
There was a general stampede, but Punghulu Ibrahim, bounding forward, seized 
Chat from behind, and a terrible struggle ensued. When a Malay is possessed of 
the Amok mania, he is imbued with abnormal strength; he cares for nothing; 
everything that comes in his way is attacked; he starts madly on a career of kill- 
ing. Had Chat not been seized at the moment, there is no knowing how many 
victims would have been sacrificed. As it was, notwithstanding the assistance 
given, it was a long time before he was secured, for, in his mad struggles, he tossed 
his assailants hither and thither in his efforts to get free. When he was finally 
secured, he lay gasping on the ground, foaming at the mouth, and looking like a 
demon. The facts then leaked out. The woman with the child was his wife ; 
she was overcome by the realistic acting of her spouse, and, losing all control 
of herself, had given way, The insults she had heaped on Chat were also too 
much for him. 
In the morning, when we started, we thought discretion the better part of 
valour, and took him with us. 
The troupe disappeared during the night, and I am inclined to think never 
visited that campong again. If they did, I did not hear of it. Of one thing 
Tam quite sure, and that is, they fought very shy of local aid for an under-study. 
Their experience on this occasion was too near a tragedy to be repeated. 
