INHABITING THE MALAYAN PENINSULA. 73 



to begging; thus any thing they see tliat 

 pleases theni, tlicy ask of the owner, when 

 they know that there is no means to steal 

 it, and sometimes their demands are so 

 frequent and repeated that tliey are very 

 importunate. The Jakuns are not so; they 

 differ much in tfiis respect from other In- 

 dians; tliey are liberal and generous. When 

 I visited them, tliey very seldom asked me 

 fSr any thing; and they never refused wliat 

 I asked from them; and when after asking 

 I refused to take it, tliey pressed nie io do 

 so. They have very seldom quarrels amongst 

 themselves; their disputes are ordinarily 

 settled hy their Batins or chiefs, without 

 figliting or malice. Their laws allow of pu- 

 nishment for several sorts of crimes; but 

 the Batin has seldom occasion to apply 

 them. Candour and honesty, qualities very 

 rare in India, and 1 dare say in all Asia, 

 are notwitlislantllng found amongst Jakuns. 

 It is remarkable that llie} abhor lying and 



