606 Account of the Territory and Inhabitants [Dec. 



The Malays in Naning do not cultivate more rice than is absolutely 

 necessary for their private wants, and the portion annually given up 

 to the Panghulu : this is generally cut in February and March. The 

 principal grain districts are Sabang and Malikie. The Panghulu de- 

 pended on these places in a good measure for his supplies. Fire-arms 

 and gun-powder are scarce. 



Carriage is got with difficulty and expense in Naning. Coolies are 

 the best means of transporting baggage. 



The Malays are despicable as an enemy in open ground, or at close 

 quarters, (except the rare Amok,) seldom or never trusting their persons 

 from the protection of a breast-work or trees ; when they retreat, they 

 plant Rangows (a sort of wooden caltrop) in their rear. During a 

 war which lasted two months, behind breast-works, between the chief 

 of Rumbowe and a confederacy of minor chiefs against him, after a 

 large expenditure of powder and a disastrous list of bursten Lilahs, 

 the bills of mortality actually amounted to two casualties. In short, 

 their plan is one of incessantly harassing the line of communication, 

 stockading and retreating : the best, in fact, they could adopt in 

 a country covered with forest, and where every tree is a strong-hold, 

 and every road a defile. 



Taboo is the only decidedly unhealthy post to Europeans ; of the 

 officers who remained there, any length of time, one alone escaped 

 fever. 



It is situated, not low, but surrounded by lofty hills, covered with 

 jungle, which, perhaps by impeding the free circulation of air, may 

 contribute to its character for unhealthiness ; which it also bears from 

 the natives themselves. 



The climate of the interior is not favorable to the long occupation 

 of the country by Indian troops ; at all events they would require fre- 

 quent reliefs. Fever and an obstinate ulcer attacking the legs, are 

 their principal enemies ; a slight scratch without attention being diffi- 

 cult to heal. 



The ulcer attacks the Malays also; they call it 'i$J> tokah; they 

 also have a species of leprosy called ^j^*vS kusta, and a disease, 

 like cholera, called ^.cUs xCil angin tdawan, or the " Wind of Pesti- 

 lence :" both of these last are deemed incurable in Naning, and the 

 unfortunate sufferer is generally deserted by his friends in his greatest 

 need, or driven into the jungle to perish, as an outcast. Katumbohan 

 U* ?)}*}& or small-pox, is prevalent. I have not heard that inoculation 

 or vaccination, is known to the natives ; at all events, it is not practised ; 

 they use refrigerating medicines. 



