11 THE PIGMIES. 



We must acknowledge that there is a great discrepancy between 

 this state of things, as described by M. Mont an o, and the informa- 

 tion given by his predecessors. This is one more instance, to be 

 added to many others, of the imprudence of limiting oneself to 

 superficial observation when it is a question of forming an opinion 

 of these backward and wild populations. 



In spite of their intermixture with alien races, the Negritos of 

 Malacca would, no doubt ; if better known, exhibit similar social cha- 

 racteristics. M. Montano tells us that they never go to war, ( l ) 

 that parents attend most tenderly on their offspring, and, if neces- 

 sary, will, for their sake, deprive themselves of food. Logan 

 informs us that, among the Manthras, adultery is punished with 

 death, but not unless, as among the Mamanuas, the crime be 

 proved by witnesses. The sentence is passed by the head chief 

 (Batin) and carried out by the Panglima. The two culprits are 

 laid down in the nearest stream and their heads are kept under 

 water by the means of a fork. A man who is convinced of his 

 wife's misconduct, but who has no actual proof of it, can leave her 

 on condition of giving up to her his house and fields, a certain 

 amount of cotton stuff, a few rings, and a small sum of money. 

 The children remain with their mother, but she cannot re-marry 

 until her divorced husband has taken to himself another wife. ( 2 ) 



Industry. — I have already mentioned how the various Negrito 

 populations support themselves. I must add that none of those 

 of whom I speak here are cannibals. ( s ) This accusation has been 



( i ) Logan had already alluded to this fact, which is a ramarkable feature 

 among- these wild and sport-loving tribes. {The Binua of Johore, p 273.) 



( 2 ) Luc. cit, p. 268 



( •'« ) I must remark here that this paper is exclusively devoted to the study 

 of the Negritos proper. As for the Papua -Negritos, mixed with the Papuas 

 of Naw-Guinea and the adjacent island-groups, it is very possible that they 

 may have let themselves be carried away by example and may have addicted 

 themselves to man-eating; but it is impossible, for want of accurate informa- 

 tion, to give an opinion on the suty'ect. The confusion which has too long 

 existed concerning these two races and which is still mere or less kept up by 

 some of the most recent travellers, makes it very difficult to study them 

 independently of each other. The examination of skulls permits of our dis- 

 tinguishing the two races, but throws no light on the various characteristics 

 which divide them in other respects. 



