234 BAT A VI A. 
measures, which their Mahomedan and succeeding European) 
visitors were by no means sparing in inflicting on them. 
The present cast of the Malay character is of a very extra- 
ordinary nature. In the pursuit of phinder they are as active, 
restless, and courageous, as in their conquests they are fero- 
cious and vindictive. To their enemies they are remorseless, 
to their friends capricious, and to strangers treacherous. 
Ready at one moment to sacrifice his life in the defence of his 
friend, the Malay, in the heat of passion, will not hesitate to 
murder him the next. Like a beast of prey, he raves and 
foams when beset with dangers ; but his courage may rather be 
<jonsidered of that ferocious and desperate kind which acts on 
the impulse of the moment, a sort of mental frenz}^, than that 
steady and deliberate conduct which preserves its character 
under all' circvmistances. It is equally dangerous to offend 
or to punish a Malay : in the one case he will stab privatel}^, 
in the other in the heat of his rage. A b}ow is an indignity 
which makes him lose at once all value for his own existence, 
and to set death at defiance. lie never forgives the author 
of such disgrace, but seeks how he may best glut his re- 
venge, however certain that an ignominious death will be the 
consequence. 
By the same impetuous temper, which renders him impa- 
tient of injuries, he is driven to desperation by misfortunes, 
whether the3P arise from unavoidable circumstances, or from 
his own misconduct. In either case he rarely submits to his 
fate with coolness, but flies to his favourite opium, whose 
7 
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