CHAPTER lY. 



THE MALAY RACE. 



If the Mongolian occupies a larger portion of the surface of the 

 globe, the Malay is yet the most widely scattered race ; and in some 

 respects, it is also the most remarkable. In institutions and social 

 condition, it exhibits perhaps greater variety than all the other races 

 combined ; and from a universal, instinctive, attachment to the vi^ater, 

 it almost merits the appellation of 'amphibious.' Endowed too with 

 a wandering disposition, less regardful of a home than the rest of 

 mankind, its march has been truly 'upon the waves;' and beyond the 

 Atlantic, it has reached almost every islet in the ocean, that affords 

 the least means of subsistence. 



The Malay complexion is very uniform, and is always decidedly 

 darker than the Mongolian. I have never seen it light enough to 

 show the least trace of a flush ; nor, on the other hand, so dark but 

 that the marks of tattooing were conspicuously visible. The colour 

 may be termed reddish-brown, more nearly than in the Mongolian 

 race, approaching the hue of tarnished copper. 



The hair seems in greater quantity than in the other races, the 

 Papuan, perhaps, excepted ; and it is straight, or at most wavy, and 

 usually raven-black. When cropped within about two inches, I have 

 observed that it will generally stand erect; owing, apparently, to a 

 coarser texture than in the Telingan and White races. The beard 

 grows long, but is almost always thin; though some variety prevails 

 in different countries. The East Indian tribes are nearly beardless; 

 while among the Polynesians a beard is not unusual, though it does 

 not seem to get strong till late in life. I have occasionally seen Poly- 

 nesians, in whom the beard was nearly thick enough to conceal the 

 skin. The practice, however, of eradicating it, prevails very generally 

 in the countries inhabited by the Malay race. 



