162 Timehri. 
The Malay States are renowned for the fruit which is grown there. Most 
people have heard of the famous mangosteen. and the Durian has a reputation 
of itsown. The latter to a neweomer is absolutely obnoxious from the really 
terrible smell which it exudes from the skin. The fruit is large, something like 
a soursop In appearance, with spikes all over it. Inside each segment has two 
or three seeds covered with a custard-like substance. When once one’s courage 
san be screwed up to taste this the smell of the skin is forgotten and during the 
season the fruit is eagerly sought after. With the Malays as well as with the 
Chinese the Durian is a great favourite. One of the first cases I ever had tou 
deal with was one in which a youth severely assaulted and robbed his grand 
mother to get money to buy a Durian. There is one tree I hear on Mr. Junor’s 
estate up the Demerara River, se some day you may be able to tryit. Do not 
give up at the first attempt. 
Tn my day piracy was rife not so much by Malays as by Chinese, who in their 
long snake boats hovered along the coast and looted passing junks in sampans. 
The pirates lived in the mangrove swamps where their houses were carefully 
concealed. Steam launches could not approach because of the shallow water 
and whenever a raid was made it had to be accomplished on foot. At sea their 
snake boats were so fast that they could not be overtaken by any craft at our 
disposal unless they were disabled. After a time, from constant hunting, 
pitacy was practically suppressed and the opening up of the country made it 
more difficult to secure hiding places, without which piracy with open boats 
could not be successful. 
A SportsMAN’s PARADISE. 
Going from scenes oi turmoil to those cf peaceful recreation, the Malay States 
were a paradise for the sportsman. Snipe abounaea as did also innuwmer- 
able other kinds of game. Jungle fowl, Argus pheasants, pea-fowl and so on, 
were by no means difficult to get. While rhinoceros, tiger, buffalo, and deez 
roamed through the jungles. 
In the interior were to be found the aboriginal tribes, Semangs and Sakeis or 
Jakoons as they were called in Malacca, a most interesting people who built no 
houses, used blow pipes and darts tipped with ippo poison and who shunned 
communication with strangers. I was fortunate enough to gain their confidence 
and spent sume time amongst them learning much wood craft and being led 
unerringly about the jungle from place to place by short routes which I unaided 
would never have discovered. Where I walked barefooted there are now, I 
hear, railways, telegraph poles and all the details of modern civilisation—that 
grand solitude is gone which is the charm of life in the primeval forest and which 
svothes after the stress of the strenuous existence. Such must, however, 
disappear as European civilisation advances. Is it always to the benefit of 
the so-called uncivilised people ? Let us hope so. 
‘THe Mauays’ Loyarry. 
Speaking of the Malays it is impossible not tu pay a tribute to their loyalty 
when once you have gained their confidence. They are proud but nut rude, 
manly, but not aggressive, keen to resent ap Injury yet just in their estimate of 
