442 ' THE RACES OF MAN [chap. xl. 



exposed ; the cheek-bones are rather prominent, the mouth 

 large, the lips broad and well cut, but not protruding, the 

 chin round and well-formed. 



In this description there seems little to object to on tlie 

 score of beauty, and yet on the whole the Malays are cer- 

 tainly not handsome. In youth, however, they are often 

 very good-looking, and many of the boys and guds up to 

 twelve or fifteen years of age are very pleasing, and some 

 have countenances which are in their way almost perfect. 

 I am inclined to think they lose much of their good looks 

 by bad habits and irregular living. At a very early age 

 they chew betel and tobacco almost incessantly ; they 

 suffer much want and exposure in their fishing and other 

 excursions ; their lives are often passed in alternate starva- 

 tion and feasting, idleness and excessive labour, — and this 

 naturally produces premature old age and harshness of 

 features. 



In character the Malay is impassive. He exhibits a 

 reserve, difi&dence, and even bashfulness, which is in 

 some degree attractive, and leads the observer to think 

 that the ferocious and bloodthirsty character imputed to 

 the race must be grossly exaggerated. He is not demon- 

 strative. His feelings of surprise, admiration, or fear, are 

 never openly manifested, and are probably not strongly 

 felt. He is slow and deliberate in speech, and circuitous 

 in introducing the subject he has come expressly to discuss. 



