OrCtTATlONS OP TUT. NATIVES & CHARACTER ■ 1/7 



trary sometimes kill himself to avenge a similar 

 wrong, lie imprecates his blood to be on tin head 

 of the offenders. Jf they be of a similar creed with 

 himself, he is avenged in the terror the imprecation 

 inspires. 



Notwithstanding the vires, piracies, and faults 

 which have been attributed to Malays, but in far too 

 Sweeping a manner, and when true to any considera- 

 ble extent, only so of isolated classes existing under 

 circumstances favorable to the unchecked expansion 

 of evil passions, ihere is in their character a some- 

 thing as the late Sir S. Rattles has expressed it, "con- 

 genial to Hritish minds," and which certainly, with 

 that due tolerance of their habits and prejudices, 

 winch it is not difficult \n extend towards them, 

 leaves a more favorable impression than that received 

 by an intercourse with the better cultivated, but 

 more crafty and fawning natives of India. 



The most settled ryots cultivate tobacco and in- 

 digo — chiefly in December, January 'and the suc- 

 ceeding dry months. The owners of cocoanut and 

 areca and betel gardens find sufficient occupation 

 in collecting their produce arifl m 'II rug it. A few 

 find work as day-Ialwmrers at from eight to ten 

 cents a day, most frequently the latter. Ten cents 

 may be of the average value of 5$ pence, which is 

 very nearly the lowest rate of labour in Ireland. 



During a great portion of the year, the rice-fields, 

 ditches, and water-courses swarm with fish — chiefly 

 the ikan harooan, or ka boose. Men, women and 

 children are then rarely seen without their fishing 

 rods, as before described. The bait is a dead frog, 

 which is made to play on the surface of the water, 

 and a boy of six or seven years of age may 

 be seen landing a fish of several pounds in weight. 

 This occupation or rather amusement, is an idle 



