— 127 — 



When brokers (*) make any transactions , they take hold of each other's fingers 

 in order to state numbers; though they make bargains for thousands they 

 make no written contract, but they bind themselves by pointing towards 

 Heaven, and this engagement they dare not break. 



The country produces no rice, which they buy therefore from Siam, 

 K'u-lung and P'o-ti-li ( 2 ). 



According to their customs it is forbidden to eat pork; when the 

 Chinese who live here eat it, the others are indignant and say it is filthy. 

 They have much milk, which the rich people eat together with their rice. 



For their fowls, dogs, geese and ducks they also depend on other 

 countries, therefore the price of these is five times dearer than in China. 



The temper of the people is fierce, but they are true to their word. 

 They are never without a sword ( 3 ); as soon as a boy is two years old, they 

 give him a small sword and allow him to carry it. When a word is used 

 which does not please them , they at once take to their sword and if a man 

 is killed in this way, the murderer runs away to the mountains and hides 

 himself there for some time; when he comes back again the relatives of the 

 deceased do not try to seek revenge and the orang haya does not look into 

 the matter any more. 



When people meet each other, they put their hands on each other's 

 heart as a sign of politeness, but if, by mistake, the hand is put on the 

 other's head, he becomes very angry. 



The poorer people often make themselves guilty of robbery; when 

 they meet a single stranger, they kill him and rob his effects. 



The merchants of the ships live in a hotel , the chief of which always 

 gives female slaves to serve them and sends them food and drink morning 

 and evening ; but if one uses too freely of this , be may be sure that all his 

 money will pass into the hands of the other. 



In contracting a marriage they attach much importance to the mar- 

 riage presents. The bridegroom has to provide a certain amount , but in his 

 turn expects that the dowry of the bride will be many times as much, and 

 moreover the bride brings five or six slaves with her. 



O >f fll . gê-tsing, seems to be a foreign word, but we do not know froin what language 

 it is borrowed. In Amoy the word gê-lang, ^ J^ is still used to denote a broker. 



(*) ?Êk $|£ j 'tSK ÏJIï? IB>v WÊ. JÜ» we are una ble to 'ientify the two latter names. 

 O £g |g[ P a " lak - v ide P- 46. 



