INHxiBITANTS OP INDONESIA. 79 



black, hard, and coarse to the touch ; the face rather round than oval and somewhat 

 flat, with small nose but wide nostrils, thick lips, prominent cheek bones, and 

 black eyes. But for their complexion and dress they might often be taken for 

 Chinese. The resemblance is even closer to the Khmers (Cambojans), with 

 whose language the Malay presents a great analogy even in its grammatical 

 structure.* Physically the Malays are distinguished by their well-balanced frames, 

 delicate articulations, small hands and feet. 



Like the members of all other human families, the Malays of the different 

 islands present marked diversities according to their pursuits or professions. The 

 corsair or the trader cannot be judged by the same standard as the mechanic or 

 the peasant. But the great bulk of the natives, occupied with husbandry, are 

 sociable if somewhat taciturn, of a kindly disposition, ever ready to render each 

 other mutual aid, extremely courteous and considerate for the privileges and 

 feelings of others. The labourer is careful not to awake his fellow workman by a 

 touch of the hand ; the creditor hesitates to remind the debtor of his obligations ; 

 altogether the demeanour and conversation of the Malays are certainly superior to 

 those of their white rulers and pretended " civilisers." 



But although in some respects highly cultured and for centuries possessing a 

 written literature, the Malays do not appear to be as richly endowed intellectually 

 as other nations, notably the Papuans, who are at present greatly their inferiors 

 in civilisation. According to those travellers who have associated most intimately 

 with them, their chief mental defect is a certain feebleness of understanding, a 

 lack of boldness or vigour of apprehension. They are timid, without power of 

 independent action, hence disposed to submit unresistingly to foreign influences. 

 Thus they formerly accepted Buddhism and Brahmanism at the hands of a few 

 Hindu missionaries. Then came the Arab traders, who soon persuaded most of 

 the populations to adopt Islam ; and now a handful of Dutch officials, supported 

 only by a few mercenary troops, sufHces to hold thirty millions of human beings in 

 a state of subjection little removed from slavery. 



Sumatra and Neighbouring Islands. 



Apart even from the adjacent archipelagoes geologically dependent on Sumatra, 

 this island is one of the largest in the world, being exceeded in extent only by 

 'New Guinea, Borneo, Madagascar, Australia, and the polar regions of Greenland 

 and the antarctic lands. Its surface, which has not yet been regularly surveyed, 

 is estimated at over 175,000 square miles, or thirteen times the area of Holland, 

 to which it is politically attached, if not yet completely reduced. In the northern 

 highlands and forests it is still occupied by independent populations, and the 

 interminable war with Atjeh, begun in 1873, has taught the Dutch people what it 

 costs to attempt the subjugation of a brave nation determined to defend its 

 autonomy against all odds. 



Until the island is completely " pacified " it will be impossible to obtain 



* Fontaine, Aymonnier, Keane {Ausiralcma). 



