96 AX ACCOUNT OF THE WILD TRIBES 



a mail who, by his nature, must necessa^ 

 rily know all the properties of every plant, 

 and consequently must be a clever [thysi- 

 cian; vvhicli explains the impatience ot Ma- 

 lays, when sick, to obtain tiieir assistance, 

 or at least gel some medicinai plants from 

 them; and these they must obtain, on any 

 .terms, because it is necessary for fiicm, and 

 must preserve tlieir life. It is not necessary 

 that such a pltysician should go to the house 

 of the sick man; as he knows every thing, 

 lie will give in his own house the proper 

 remedies to cure I lie sickuess. He is gifted 

 with the power of charming tiie wild beasts, 

 even the most ferocious. Such are the ef- 

 fects of Malay silliness and stupidity, joined 

 with the most ahsurd superstition; and tlic 

 reason why, though they despise the Jakuns, 

 thev fear them, and refrain from ill treat- 

 ing them in many circumstances ^ 



^ 1 imi^^t remark ili.it I i\o noL \iv.v(* mcm\ In apmk 



