164 Timehri. 
of such varying and at the same time interesting characteristics ‘hat everyone 
who enjoyed the study of human nature must enjov any lecture which deait 
with such a subject, and he was sure that afterooon they had haa it portrayed 
before them in such a life-like way—such 2 thorough!y entertaiaing and interest- 
ing manner—that it had brought those nations before them as they lived there ; 
nations whose characteristics were not then washed away by civilisatlon—that 
was to say they had been portrayed as they really existed. When a country 
haa been civilised for a long time the different nations began to give up their 
nationai aress and customs and after a time to a great extent they began to 
give up their 
NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS.: 
and he thougnt it was a very great pity that they did se. The longer each 
nation retained its own dress, customs and characteristics the better for them, 
it seemed. ile thought they would all agree that they had had an incezesting 
account dealing as it did with such a very unknown locaiity,-—probubly no 
other person in the roum hesides the Judge had resided in that: neighbourhood, 
althoagh new many of them had links with it, as the Judge had said, so many 
Demerara planters having gone to Penang—and it was especially suitable to 
have a lecture on that district because it made known to them a country where 
many had friends livmg. He thought they owed a great debt of gratitude and 
thanks to the Judge for having given them such an entertaining lecture. (Ap- 
plause.) 
Mr. Pope, in seconding the motion, said they were always glad to hear the genial 
Judge on any subject and they were particulariy glad to hear about a country 
such as the Straits Settlements. There were a great many people in the colony 
who had travelled about and the Society would be clad as they weve that after- 
noon to listen to their experiences in the countries they had visited. He had 
never been to Malay. he nearest he had been to the place was Seychelles 
where he had spent three or four days. One thirg he had always been curious 
about in regard to the Malay was the origin of the name given tu the Malacca 
cane ; he had heard 1t called the Penang lawyer. 
a 
His Honour : It is a mistake. 
The motion was adopted. 
Tye Penane Lawyer. 
In reply His Honour said he was sorry to interrupt Mr. Pepe when he made 
the statement about the Malaccacane. He had got hold not only of the wrong 
end but of the wrong stick altogether. The thing that went by the name of 
Penang lawyer was a small tree which grew very straight with a great nob 
at the end from which the roots sprang and were cut off leaving a head. ‘It 
was called the Penang lawyer becavse before the days of civilisation when 
people bad disputes which were now amicably settlea in the Law Courts they 
were amicably settled in those days by a knock on the head with the stick. 
Tt was not a cane but a “ lawyer ” who was very much used in the old days. 
7 
