407 



Its keeper directs it to attack his enemy in some 

 auch terms as ** Go and devour the heart mid en- 

 trails of so and so/* and the insect flies against the 

 fated individual, entering generally either at the 

 back of the hand, or between the shoulders. At 

 the moment of contact it produces a sensation as 

 if a bird had flown against the body, but it is in- 

 visible, and tbe only sign of its presence is a livid 

 hue on the spot where it has entered. It forth- 

 with commences its mission, inflicting intolera- 

 ble torment, the body gradually becomes blue, 

 and the victim expires. 



The " religious magic" of the Malays consists, 

 for the most part, of scripture narratives grossly 

 distorted by ridiculous fables. Tbu8, the translation 

 of Enoch is attributed to jugglery, The Malays 

 assert that he requested and obtained permission 

 to view the glories of Heaven, and, after having sa- 

 tisfied his desire, was directed to depart. He 

 shortly returned, and knocked at the gate ; and^ 

 upon being asked by Gabriel what he wanted, 

 said that he had come back for his slippers, which 

 he had forgotten. Having by this trick obtained 

 re-admittance, he refused to depart, and the Lord 

 rebuked Gabriel for attempting his expulsion. 



Without attempting to follow the Malays any 

 further in their absurd legends, 1 will now ad- 

 vert to the state of education amongst them. 



There has been within the last few years a 

 marked amelioration in various points connected 

 with the education of the Malays. In 1819 at 

 Malacca the number of scholars had decreased 

 from between 160 and 170 to about fifty children. 



