270 LOMBOCK. [chap. xi. 



mollusca. Altogether I was much pleased with my visit 

 to this place, and it gave me a higher opinion than I had 

 before entertained of the taste of these people, although 

 the style of the buildings and of the sculpture is very 

 much inferior to those of the magnificent ruins in Java. 

 I must now say a few words about the character, manners, 

 and customs of these interesting people. 



The aborigines of Lombock are termed Sassaks. They 

 are a Malay race hardly differing in appearance from the 

 people of Malacca or Borneo. They are Mahometans and 

 form the bulk of the population. The ruling classes, on 

 the other hand, are natives of the adjacent island of Bali, 

 and are of the Brahminical religion. The government is 

 an absolute monarchy, but it seems to be conducted with 

 more wisdom and moderation than is usual in Malay 

 countries. The father of the present Bajah conquered the 

 island, and the people seem now quite reconciled to their 

 new rulers, who do not interfere with their religion, and 

 probably do not tax them any heavier than did the native 

 chiefs they have supplanted. The laws now in force in 

 Lombock are very severe. Theft is punished by death. 

 Mr. Carter informed me that a man once stole a metal 

 coffee-pot from his house. He was caught, the pot restored, 

 and the man brought to Mr. Carter to punish as he thought 

 fit. All the natives recommended Mr. Carter to have him 

 " krissed" on the spot ; " for if you don't," said they, " he 



