! 
240 BAT A VI A. 
The most numerous and indeed the most useful are the 
Malay slaves, brought from the different islands in the 
Eastern Sea. Like the Chinese, they are prompt at imita- 
tion, and expert in learning all handicraft trades. A great 
part of the female slaves are imported from Pulo Nias, a 
small island on the west side of Sumatra, being esteemed for 
the elegance of their shapes, their vivacity, and their smooth 
skins. They are, however, said to be subject to a cutaneous 
disorder which, like the leprosy, withers the skin, and 
changes its colour. The price of a Nias maid, when all her 
points are good, is seldom less than one thousand dollars. 
The Malabar is a mild and passive creature, willing to 
learn, but slow of apprehension. His slender form is ill 
adapted for hard labour, and he is therefore generally pur- 
chased as a personal servant ; and the women of this nation 
are mostly employed to wait on their mistresses. The black 
slaves from the island of Timor are not unlike the Malabars, 
and in their features evidently betray their Hindoo origin. 
The slaves from Madagascar and the Mosambique are a 
harmless race of men, of a pliant and willing disposition, 
but extremely stupid ; tall, muscular, and athletic, but their 
strength is seldom employed with advantage to themselves 
or their owners, or their labour conducted with judgment. 
Their artless simplicity leads to the easy detection of their 
crimes. We had an instance of this at the hotel where Ave 
lodged. Some articles were missing from one of the rooms. 
