RESCUE OF SIX STRANGERS ETHNOLOGY OF THEM. 141 



of the ships engaged in trade here, and out of the numerous dialects spoken none can understand 

 them. There are Siamese here, whose language they do not speak. On hoard of the ship 

 Bombay they dropped a few words which the captain thought he recognized as the language 

 of the natives of the Bentinck islands ; on their noticing it, they made their usual abject motions 

 and salaams, and said Silla-ba-boo, and then remained silent. 



I do not believe they wish to make themselves known, or I think they could do so by signs or 

 language, where so many different castes and nations are assembled. Their usual habit of 

 making off and hiding when strange persons come on board is singular to me. I also think they 

 all act by direction of one of their number ; they have a strange aversion to leave the ship, and 

 have made no acquaintances. They have been made comfortable on board. 



I remain yours, &c, JUNIUS J. BOYLE, 



Lieutenant Commanding. 



report of examination of the six rescued natives. 



United States Naval Hospital, 



Macao, October 15, 1853. 



Sir : In compliance with your order of the 5th instant, requiring a careful examination of the 

 naked bodies of the Indians rescued by the United States ship Southampton to be made, and a 

 written account of their conformation, complexion, cast of features, and any peculiarities of 

 physical development with reference to their ethnographic character to be furnished, we, the 

 undersigned, have the honor to submit the following report, the result of our investigation : 



In reference to their stature, we find they are of about the medium height, well set, with a 

 moderate muscular development ; body and limbs well proportioned; having but a small amount 

 of adipose matter in their subcutaneous tissue, it gives a sharpness to their contour. Their 

 heads are small and round, with a large, disproportionate development of the posterior part of 

 the cranium. Their faces approximate the oval form, with a moderately high forehead ; eyes 

 black, but not very brilliant or intelligent in their expression ; chins broad and rather massive ; 

 noses long and flat ; lips somewhat thick and moderately prominent, so that their features 

 resemble in some degree those of the mulatto. Their mouths are large, displaying strong and 

 well-formed teeth ; which, however, are much disfigured by the use of the betel- nut. Their 

 skin is smooth and soft ; the head covered with a profusion of coarse, black, and straight hair, 

 generally worn short. On the other parts of the body where hair is usually found, it was small 

 in quantity and thin. Their limbs lithe, hands and feet small ; their complexion approximating 

 that of the dark mulatto, with a tinge of the copper color. They do not exhibit any of the 

 stern, strong features of the North American aborigines. They usually sit on their haunches; 

 are very taciturn, and with a stolid expression of countenance. 



Their language, when'they were found conversing with one another, was soft and agreeable 

 to the ear ; yet, although it is supposed to be a derivation from the Malayan, it was not intelli- 

 gible to those on board familiar with the ordinary dialect of the Malays. 



From the position where they were found, and many characteristics about them, we are of 

 opinion they are of Malay origin. It is probable that climate and other accidental causes have 

 tended to modify and change them somewhat from their original stock. Their intelligence is of 



