469 



haa now wholly disappeared, audit is a pleas- 

 ing sight to witness tlie children of both sexes 

 engaged in learning iheir lesson?, or reading, 

 as some of the more advanced do, with ease 

 and Hiiency from any page of the Gospels selected 

 at random. The master of the flourishing school, 

 mentioned above, appears more than haU convinc* 

 edof the reality of Chri==tianity. and, when in the 

 course of his reading, he arrives at a pasisage whose 

 meaning is obscure to him, does not hesitate to 

 apply fur the solution of his doubts. 



With this hasty and imperfect notice of the 

 state of education amongst the Malays, I shall 

 dismiss the branch of the subject, and proceed to 

 a review of the Chinese ceremonies, commencing 

 with those which are connected with births, mar- 

 riages, and deaths*. 



There is no particular ceremony cibserved on the 

 birth of a child, beyond casting, and noting down, 

 its horoscope. When it attains the age of a month, 

 it is bathed and dressed in entirely new cloihes, 

 and, in most cases, a feast is provided for the 

 friends of the family. This is considered an im- 

 portant ceremony. 



When a Chinaman is desirous of being married, 

 he, in accordance with that 6lial piety su strictly 

 enjoined upon his nation, communicafes his wish- 

 es to his father, who either proceeds himself, or, 

 more generally, dispatches a friend, to the house 



♦ Tht cercnioBiei hert dcttiled differ ia iCTeml tmrticttliirs from ihwr 

 olwerred In China. 'Hie CWwtie nt Malacca, aware the ubsiivd Uphi 

 In whicli thev tniist lie viewed by Europeans will nf)t i-omiTmnieaie rlicm 

 to the dsTfict entinircf. Thn inlarniation tht ri fnifl oUUiiiett 

 wiUi ^rest difficully from other sonrrps, >iid newrAl uttvMi^tM thmese 

 were lutwcqMcntly clwely intemgitcd ui %o it* eoirctnn'«. 



