SUMATRA, 
Mahomctanifm, and confequent change of manners^ have loft m a great 
degree the genuine Sumarran character, which is the immediate obje<5t 
of my invcfltgation. They are difli»guilhed by the appellation of Ma- 
Kfab)'*, l^ys, by the rctl of the iiland, which, though originally, and flrldly 
denoting an inhabitant of the neighbouring peninfuk^ is now under- 
flood to mean a Muffulman, fpeaking the Malay language, and belong- 
ing, by defccnt, at leaft^ to the kingdom of Menangcabow, or to that paxt 
of the fea coaft bordering on it, called Atay Anghi^ which extends from 
thirty two minutes N» to forty minutes S, latitude* Hereabout a colony 
from the peninfula evidently fettled, from whence their deicendents 
emigrating, took up their refidence at different fea ports on the fouthern 
coaft, as far down as Bencoolen; introduced their language, and fcater-^ 
ed every wjiere the feeds of their religion^ which as they fhot up, either 
w'ithered, or fioyriflied more or lefs according to the aptnefs of the foil, 
and the pains of the laborer. Beyond Bencoolen there are none to be 
met with, excepting fuch as have been drawn thither by, and are in 
the pay of the Europeans. On the eaftcrn fide of the ifland they are 
fettled at the entrance of almofl: all the navigable rivers, where they more 
conveniently indulge their natural bent for trade and piracy. It muJtl 
be obferved that the term Mafay^ in common fpeech, like that of Moor 
on the weft of India, isalmoft fynonymous with Mahometan, When the 
Sumatrans, or natives of any of the caftern illands, learn to read the 
Arabic character, and fubmit to circumcifion, they are faid to become 
{mnnjaddee MalayQ,) But this is not a proper or J«'^*^"»**te mode 
of fpeaking. The fuita.ti of A^mat. Ouungey, it IS true, ambitious of imi- 
tating the fultan of Menangcabow, ftilcs himfelf and fubjefls, Malays; 
yet his neighbour the Pangeran of Soongey Lamo, chief of the Rejangs, 
who is equally an independent prince, and very enlightened Mahometan, 
will not allow himfelf to be other than an original Sumatran*. Thus 
much it was neceffary I fliould fay, in order to avoid abiguity, concern* 
f He fe^mcd ofiendcd at nay TupipKiriiig him a Mat/ layman, in a couverfatlon I ance haii with 
him oa the fubjr£l, and replied with fome emotioRi *' Mal^'o iedat, Sir i Ofai^ mho ktfsd 
ffj9* «' No Malay Siri I am a genuine, original couutrymsn.'* The two languagcsj he writes 
atic! talk^ with ei^ui! facility} but tht Eejang he e^ecms lil^^ motlier tongue, 
ing 
