rOLICE. 



2-13 



silver, but more frequently iron dross, below tbe pil- 

 lars to clriveaway evil spirits. A coeoanut and cer- 

 tain herbs and plants are tied also to the chief sup- 

 porters, and on the tops of these are fi xed tri -coloured 

 Jtnots of cloth ; red, black, or blue and white. 



These are remnants' of Booddhism. The Malays, 

 while confessing that they are rites unauthorized by 

 their religion, are yet afraid to build a house without 

 performing them. The m&tals were, in ancient times, 

 typical of the planets j hence the iron dross, and per, 

 haps the sailor's horse shoe ! 



POLICE. 



The peace of tbe Settlement, generally considered, 

 is maintained by means of a native police, which is 

 as operative as might be expected, with reference to 

 the classes out of which its individuals arc, of neces- 

 sity, chose il 



The obstacles to an all-pervading police are every 

 where manifold, and here they are not few in num- 

 ber. Nor is is it probable that, were better materials 

 at hand, the improvement would be great, because 

 many of these obstacles are inseparable from the free 

 exercise, of English law, and derive additional force 

 from tbe education and habits >ef the varying tribes 

 which form our population. Where a community is 

 small, the espionage, if not tbe expense of a very ex- 

 tended police, might not be relished — and it is doubt- 

 ful whether, with tbe general want of discretion and 

 presence of rnind discoverable in the conduct of the na- 

 tives in the mass, and the necessity which would there- 

 by be imposed of multiplying checks, a commensu- 

 rate advantage" would be derived by any great degree 

 of extension. 



Settlers, it is to be hoped, will, for their own, if not 

 for the public interest, afford such facilities as may 

 lie in their way to the working ; of the police; a* U h 



