64 



Sketch of the Mala7jan Pen 'msula^ 



[Jan. 



nesian, a little Persian, and a dialect purely Malayan whicli, constilutes 

 a little more than one-fourth of the language written and spoken at 

 the present day. Some of the Malays believe in the existence of two 

 tribes called Maiva and. Biliavg ; the former of which is represented to 

 have an arm of iron serving as a chopper, and the latter to be entirely 

 covered with longhair. Both are represented to be highly malignant 

 indisposition and devourers of men. These stories are derided by 

 ISIalays of information ; they are not however confined to the peninsula. 

 Mr. Marsden (Hist, of Sumatra page 41) describes two races of wild 

 people inhabiting the interior of Sumatra called the Orang Kuhu and 

 Oravg Giigu, of similar appearance and propensities. 



The four interior states of Rumhowe, Suvgie ujong, Johole and Sri- 

 menavti, as also the province Nayiing, are peopled by the Malay des- 

 cendants of a colony direct from the ancient empire of Menavgcahowe 

 in Sumatra. For further information regarding the origin, manners and 

 customs of the Malays of the peninsula, and the singular law of inheri- 

 tance prevailing among the Menangcahowe colonists, the reader is refer- 

 red to my accounts of Naning, Rumhowe, Malacca and Sungie ujong^ 

 published in the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 



There are a few BatLahs and Caffirs on the peninsula. The former, 

 are chiefly slaves, or slave debtors, imported from the opposite shores 

 of Sumatra ; and the latter, slaves brought over by Malay Hajisov Arab 

 Nakhodas from Arabia, and the eastern coast of Africa. TheChinesej 

 Cbiiliahs, and Klings are settlers from China, and Peninsular India, 

 chiefly from the Coromandel coast. They form a most useful and in- 

 dustrious class of the community ; particularly the first, who are, com- 

 paratively speaking, most excellent artisans, agriculturists, and miners. 

 I may take an opportunity hereafter of more minutely adverting to the 

 habits and customs of these busy colonists from the celestial empire, 

 and their singular system of emigration among the Indo Chinese na- 

 tions, and insular states of the Indian Archipelago. 



Articles of Export and 777ip or t.— The principal articles of export 

 and produce are tin from Perak, Salmigore, Single, Malacca, Tringaun, 

 and Kemaman, gold-dust from Pahang, Gominchi, Mount Ophir, Kema- 

 man, and Tringaun ; spices, elephant's teeth, pepper, sago, sugar- 

 canes, timber for ship and house-building, dammer, ebony, bees' wax, 

 betel-nut, aguilla and sapan woods, hogs, poultry, buffalos, tiles, and 

 an immense variety of fruits. The chief imports are, opium, salt, 

 cotton cloths, tobacco and rice. 



The following is a rough estimate of the average annual produce 

 of tin from the Malayan peninsula and Junk Ceylon, obtained from 

 natives under every possible check. 



