280 
VOYAGE OP THE POTOMAC. 
[Marcli,, 
nut. They are a sober people, although Europeans, in order to 
-serve their own purposes, by inducing some of the chiefs to drink 
wine to excess, have partially succeeded in corrupting the habits 
of some individuals in this respect. The use of opium, it naust 
be confessed with regret, is too prevalent among them. 
Though not much addicted to excess, and of rather a moderate 
temperament, they are, in general, expensive according to their 
means, seldom hoarding their wealth, or betraying a penurious 
disposition. Fond of show and pomp, they lay out all their spare 
money in dress and equipage. They are proud to a fault, if we 
may take the Dutch testimony for the fact ; and not only so, but 
if one be a person of rank, or in affluent circumstances, he is, on 
such testimony, " superstitious, proud, jealous, vindictive, mean, 
and slavish towards his superiors— but haughty and despotic 
towards his inferiors." We have reason to dissent from this 
opinion ; and also from that expressed by Jono de Barros, who 
says, the " Javans are so proud, that they think all mankind their 
inferiors ; so that if a Javan were passing along the street, and 
saw a native of any other country standing on any hillock or place 
raised higher than the ground on which he was walking, if any 
such person did not immediately come down until he should have 
passed, the Javan would kill him, for he will permit no person to 
stand above him ; nor would a Javan carry any weight or burden 
on his head, even if they should threaten him with death." 
This we take to be the romance of early travellers and wonder- 
makers. That the Javans have pride, we are sensible ; but we 
must have stronger evidence than we yet possess, to believe that 
it was ever carried to such ridiculous excess. " Their nation- 
ality," says Raffles, " which is very strong, although it delights in 
the traditionary narratives of ancient Javan exploits, arid supports 
a hope of future independence, which they are not backward to 
express, does not lead them to despise the character, or to under- 
value the acts of strangers." It is true, that those of the higher 
ranks esteem it disgraceful to be engaged in trade ; but the com- 
mon people are industrious in their several callings, and the chiefs 
are ever ready to encourage the labours of agriculture. 
On the whole, the Javans are a mild, quiet, and domestic 
people, justly proud of their ancestors, and, like the Jews, are 
confidently looking forward to the fulfilment of some traditionary 
