278 
VOYAGE OF THE POTOMAC. 
[Marcli^ 
whereas, the Malays and Bugis always wear it short. The men 
generally gather it up on the crown of the head, twist it round, 
and fasten it by means of a semicircular tortoise-shell comb fixed 
in front ; but among the higher classes it generally flows in curls, 
which is considered as a mark of respect in presence of a su- 
perior. All classes anoint their hair with oils and " precious 
ointments," as is the custom with all oriental nations ; they also 
perfume their dresses, and are addicted to the use of musk. In 
the houses of the higher orders, they are in the habit of burning 
incense of benjamin and other odoriferous gums. The dress of 
the priests is white, with turbans on their heads, after the fashion 
of the Arabs. The court-dress and war-dress vary in many 
respects from that of the common inhabitants. 
In common with the Sumatrans and other inhabitants of the 
Archipelago, both sexes of all ranks adhere to the singular and 
painful custom of filing and blackening the teeth, as they consider 
it disgraceful to have white teeth like dogs and monkeys. The 
object of filing, it seems, is to make the front teeth concave, and 
more susceptible of the black die. This cruel and barbarous 
custom, which generally takes place at the age of eight or nine 
years, tends to destroy the teeth at a very early period of life, 
although it is said that their rapid decay is not attended with 
any pain. 
The character of the Javans is generally amiable ; we allude to 
the middling classes, who have not been corrupted by indulgence 
on the one hand, or spirit-broken and stripped by oppression on 
the other. They are a generous and warm-hearted people. In 
their domestic relations the^r are said to be kind, affectionate, 
gentle, and contented ; in their public ones they are obedient, 
honest, and faithful. In their intercourse with society they dis- 
play, in a high degree, the virtues of honesty, plain dealing, and 
candour. They are ingenuous almost to a fault, and their sim- 
plicity and credulity are proverbial. Had this not been a promi- 
nent feature in their character, the Arabs would not so easily have 
laid the yoke of Mahommed upon their necks. They easily be- 
come the dupes of any religious fanatic, and credit, without 
scruple or examination, his claim to superior powers. They are 
ever prone to be influenced by omens, to prognostics, to prophets, 
and to quacks. They are great observers of lucky or unlucky 
