32 BRITISH BORNEO. 
and are crying out to be taken under the protection of the 
Queen, or, failing that, then under the “ Kompani,”’ as the 
British North Borneo Company’s Government like that of the 
East India Company in days gone by, is styled, or under 
Sarawak. 
The condition of the domestic slaves is not a particularly 
hard one unless, in the case of a girl, she is compelled to join 
the harem, when she becomes technically free, but really only 
changes one sort of servitude for another and more degrading 
one. With this exception, the slaves live on friendly terms 
with their masters’ families, and the propinquity of a British 
Colony—Labuan—has tended to ameliorate their condition, as 
an ill-used slave can generally find means to escape thither 
and, so long as he remains there, he is a free man. 
The scientific description of a typical Malay has already 
been given, and it answers well on almost all points for the 
Brunat specimen, except that the nose, as well as being small, 
is, In European eyes, deficient as iD “bridge,” and the legs 
cannot be described as weak, indeed the Seca Malay, male 
and female, is a somewhat fleshy animal. In temperament, 
the Malay is described as “ taciturn, undemonstrative, little 
given to outward manifestations of joy or sorrow, courteous 
towards each other, kind to their women and children. Not 
elated by good or depressed by bad fortune, but capable of 
excesses when roused. Under the influence of religious excite- 
ment, losses at gambling, jealousy or other domestic troubles 
they are liable to amok or run-a-muck, an expression 
which appears to have passed into the English language.” 
With strangers, the Brunai Malay is doubtless taciturn, but I 
have heard Brunai ladies among themselves, while enjoying 
their betel-nut, rival any old English gossips over their cup of 
tea, and on an expedition the men will sometimes keep up a 
conversation long into the night till begged to desist. Courtesy 
seems to be innate in every Malay of whatever rank, both in 
their intercourse with one another and with strangers. The 
meeting at Court of two Brunai nobles who, perhaps, enter- 
tain feelings of the greatest hatred towards each other, is an 
interesting study, and the display of mutual courtesy unrivalled, 
