Peoples of Malaysia. 29 



sccn Aoating unassisted on the surface of 

 the water, and it niay almost be dcclared 

 an impossibility to drown a Malay without 

 hokling him imder the water, 



Iu disposition the Malay is a cheery, 

 but irresolute m;m. Exceedingly polite, 

 with a certain reserve and proud silence, 

 he intrudes himself upon no one, but he 

 will receive anything- like a courteous ad- 

 vaucc with hospiiality, He will not sutTer 

 his dignity to be arTronted, and is quick 

 to rescnt insult. But hc is cqually quick 

 to acknowlcdge kindness, and is by no 

 mcans the worst man in the world. His 

 worst charactcristks are a certain incxpli- 

 cable moodincss aml an indisposition for 

 laborious toil. 



Thc Chinese, who bcgin to pour into this 

 Archipetago, are mostly from South China, 

 but the invasion is no longer conmicd to 

 the pcoplc of Canton. Increasing numbers 

 bcgin to rmd their way south from tlie 

 Coast Provinces north of Canton. And as 

 the reports of prosperity are convcycd t in- 

 creasing: numbers are found in every im- 

 migrant ship miding its way to this land of 

 promise tliat lies at the door of thc great 



