252 
VOYAGE OP THE POTOMAC. 
[March, 
yond this, for about the distance of a mile, there was nothing but 
rice-fields, accommodated to the rising ground, surrounded and 
intersected by numerous little canals, adapted to the purpose of 
irrigation, as the different stages of the crops required. The rice 
looked well, some of it being nearly matured, and- other portions 
just springing from the soil. Beyond the lowland rice-fields the 
land began to swell into hills, the sides of which were partially 
covered with fine groves of cocoanut-trees. Numerous paths 
were seen leading back from the shore, each of which terminated 
in a small Malay village, built of bamboos, and containing from 
fifty to two hundred inhabitants. The huts were miserably con- 
structed, each containing two or three sleeping apartments, and a 
isubstitute for a kitchen, in one corner of which were the fire and 
^ome cooking utensils, but no chimney, the smoke being allowed 
to escape as it could through the loose texture of the bamboos, 
imparting to the whole establishment a sooty and filthy appear-- 
-ance. It will be seen, in the sequel, that there is a striking 
■difference between the Malays and the Javans, who are cleanly, 
neat, and industrious. 
The Malays in the villages, if they did not actually resent 
their intrusion, were evidently not very highly delighted with our 
officers' visits ; and all the women immediately deserted their 
houses on the appearance of the strangers. When welcomed by 
woman, " dear woman, the manifested form of love and hospi- 
tality," the wanderer is ever perfectly at home ; but if her cheering 
smile be lacking, he feels too sensibly that he is an intruder in- 
deed ! The features of these people are by no means displeasing 
in the young, but extremely so in those who are far advanced in 
life. Their complexion is a yellowish brown, with black hair, 
some of which is of the finest texture; their eyes are black, 
quick, and penetrating. Their teeth are regular, well set, and 
carefully filed, but generally black, from the nauseous habit of 
chewing the betele-nut, as in Sumatra. 
Their dress, in the villages above alluded to, consisted of the 
coarsest materials, and was quite indifferent ; and in no respect are 
these Malays to be compared in appearance with those of Su- 
matra. The children were entirely naked ; and the men carried 
no arms, nor did they appear to be in possession of any, except 
a large curved knife, for cutting rice and bamboos, trimming 
