Spread of Methodist Missions. 43 



Chinaman has a connncrcial bent and ca- 

 pacity which in the \at\g run will ptit him 

 amongst the chicf tradcrs of the world. 

 Thc Babas have largely ceased to spcak 

 Chinese, but have taken on the Malay 

 tongue, which howcver, on their lips has 

 suffered much in its purity, and has gradu- 

 ally come to be a disiinct dialect known as 

 the "Baba Malay," which consists of many 

 Malay words with some Chkiese and Eng- 

 Hsh mixed in. The rerjnemcnts of Malay 

 colloquialisms are uttcrly neglected, and yet 

 a simple but e fl ective instrunieut oi speech 

 has been created. The JJabas are a pro- 

 gressive body of men, wlio while they retain 

 many of ihese Chinese tradilions, have been 

 largcly emancipated from thc superstitions 

 and ceremonies whieh hamper liie iu China. 

 Their very dress indicates thc cvolution 

 through which they are passing, for while 

 they retain the loose Chinese silk trousers, 

 they wear a short, Malay under-coat, with 

 a short silk over-coat ; and while rctaining 

 for the most part the queuc, thcy cover 

 their heads with English felt hats, They 

 are amongst the keen and successful trad- 

 ers, miners and planters of all this region, 



