MISCELLANEOUS NOTES, 283 



also, I believe, confirmed by Munslii Abdullah in his " Hikayat," 

 but I cannot, at present, refer to the book. 



The idea of a Batin being sent on such a mission will make 

 Malays, or those acquainted with their manners and customs, smile : 

 but it is very possible that Batin Sapi accompanied the " noble- 

 men " mentioned above. 



W. H. E. 



LATAH. 



I have received several communications from different quarters 

 upon the subject of my recent paper on Latah. On one point, my 

 correspondents seem to be agreed, viz., that the omission of 

 Chinese from the list of residents in the Straits who are afflicted 

 with Latah, is due to my defective observation. 



It would shew great presumption were I to say definitely that 

 those who have favoured me with their criticism are wrong in their 

 opinion ; but it would be equally false humility on my part to admit 

 its correctness, upon the data which lie before me. 



In no case have any reasons been given for the assumption that 

 I am in error ; nor are any particularised instances referred to by 

 which such error might be corrected or modified. 



And I may add, with candour, but I trust without offence, that 

 many of my recent correspondents have had neither length of time, 

 nor favourable opportunities, in Malaya, sufficient to warrant the 

 formation of their very definitely expressed opinions. 



I am told by all who have written to me that numbers of Chi- 

 nese in the Straits are imitative Latahs. I am indeed told by one 

 writer that such cases are " numberless." 



It could hardly have escaped my notice that there are many 

 Chinese in this country who imitate the words and jestures of 

 others. But this is true of many people in all countries. 



