MALAY SLAVERY LAW. 253 
remained generally for life as the Raja’s slaves. Those not 
already married and accompanied in bondage by their hus- 
bands, were seldom allowed to marry, and if permission was 
accorded their husbands partook their fate as royal slaves, 
while the dower (ist kawin) went to the Raja. Usually they 
led a life of prostitution with the knowledge and consent of the 
Raja and his household, and by their means a number of male 
attendants were always about the court, and the importance 
of the Raja was thereby outwardly increased. 
At the time that British political officers were sent to reside 
in Perak the whole of the system above described was in full 
force. During the eight years which have elapsed since then, 
many causes have combined to render the slave laws practical- 
ly much less oppressive, and the odious institutions of slavery 
and debt-bondage are now in fair way to die a natural death 
in the course of afew years. 
A large number of persons remain in a state of partial slave- 
ry it is true, but in many cases they remain in that condition 
through choice or are only slavesin name. The arrival of a Brit- 
ish Resident in Perak was an encouragement to those anxious 
to do so to free themselves, and some of the earliest difficulties 
which the first Resident (Mr. Brron) had with the natives of the 
country had reference to certain runaway slaves whom he re- 
fused to return. Since the Perak campaign of 1875-6, the 
death and banishment of many influential Rajas and Chiefs 
have given numbers of people their liberty, while such men 
of influence as have remained have generally been powerless to 
enforce the ancient laws against their slaves or to obtain their 
enforcement through the British officers employed in the State. 
Many of those inclined to do so, both slaves and debt-bonds- 
men, have left the masters and have assumed the status of free 
citizens without molestation, though they have been compelled 
in some instances to pay genuine debts proved in a court of 
law. In some cases where acts of oppresson or ill-treatment 
have come to the notice of British officers, their influence has 
procured the release of sufferers. 
Most of the owners of slaves and debtors have come to look 
upon them as a comparatively worthless kind of property. 
