316 On the Government and History of [June, 



need of support themselves, than they are able to afford it to the 

 wretched rayats under them. 



Most part of the above was written while in camp at Alor Gajeh, 

 a place situated nearly in the centre of Naning, about 12 miles from 

 the Rumbowe frontier, during part of 1832, and the beginning of 

 1833. Since this period, up to the present (1834), the inhabitants 

 have, with few exceptions, returned to their native villages. The 

 ex-PanghuM came down from Sriminanti, and surrendered himself 

 unconditionally to Government, on the 5th of February, 1834. 



He has been permitted to reside at Malacca, and draw a salary from 

 Government of 30 Sicca Rupees per mensem ; has been sanctioned on 

 this condition of his binding himself in 1000 Spanish dollars, and 

 finding two securities in 500 Spanish dollars each, that he shall be 

 forthcoming whenever called upon. 



He has since this resided at Malacca, where he has received much 

 attention from all classes of the native population. He is a hale, stout 

 man, apparently about 50 years of age, of a shrewd and observant dis- 

 position, though highly imbued with the superstitions of his tribe. 

 His supernatural efficacy in the cure of diseases is still firmly believed 

 in, as that of certain kings of England was at no very remote period 

 by their enlightened and scrofulous subjects ; and his house is the 

 daily resort of the health-seeking followers of Muhammed, Foh, Brah- 

 ma, and Buddh. 



The census of 1833-4, has exceeded those of former years, amount- 

 ing to men, women, and children, 5,079. Although by the Muham- 

 medan law, a Musalman enjoys the privilege of possessing four wives, 

 provided he can maintain them, yet we find in Naning the number of 

 males exceeds that of females by one hundred and sixty-one. 



Montesquieu, I believe, in a defence of polygamy among Asiatics, 

 adduces as a cause the superior comparative number of females pre- 

 vailing in the East. The population of Naning, like that of other 

 Malayan states of the peninsula, is in a low state ; in absence of other 

 causes, generally assigned by political economists for this deficiency, 

 may be ascribed the natural unproductiveness of the females : few 

 bearing more than six children : the ravages of the small-pox, un- 

 checked by inoculation or vaccination ; the immoderate and constant 

 practice of smoking opium, by those able to purchase this pernicious 

 drug ; and, perhaps, may be added, the poverty prevailing in many of 

 its villages. The Malays, equally 'with other followers of Islam, are 

 religiously bound to marry ; hence we perceive few unmarried persons 

 who have arrived at years of puberty. Prostitution and its attendant 

 evils are extremely uncommon. 



