FOLKLORE OF THE 3IALA.YS. 29 



The foregoing are only a few specimens of the legends, sayings, 

 superstitions, and peculiarities of the Malays, which may be col- 

 lected by any one who is resident among them and conversant with 

 their language. Though, in many instances, they are puerile and 

 foolish, they are not without value for the sake of comparison with 

 the superstitious beliefs of other races. 



There would be more observers of curious customs and beliefs 

 among the .Malays if Englishmen in these latitudes would <j;et out 

 of the habit of regarding the Malays simply as a Muhammadan 

 people inhabiting the countries in the vicinity of the Straits of 

 Malacca. Let them regard the Muhammadanism of the Malay as 

 an accident not to be taken into account in studying the character 

 and tracing the origin of the people. The Asiatic Malay is physi- 

 cally the same, from Sumatra eastward to Borneo, and many legends, 

 customs, and superstitions which are found among the heathen 

 Bataks of Sumatra, the wild tribes of the Peninsula, and the Dayaks 

 of Borneo, belong equally to the more civilised Malay tribes, those 

 who have accepted Muhammadanism, and who, on that account, are 

 popularly and erroneously supposed to be a different race. 



