169 
Malays of Ceylon. 
get entirely rid of their natural ferocity, but they become 
much less cruel and vindictive, than that part of their race 
who reside in the peninsula of Malacca and their other native 
possessions. 
The men are of a middling stature, remarkably well propor= 
tioned, and of a strong and muscular make. Their legs and arms 
are particularly well shaped, and very slender at the wrists and 
ancles ; an ill made leg is scarcely ever to be seen among them. 
They are of a light brown or yellow colour, which approaches 
nearer to a copper hue in their old age, or when they are 
much exposed to the sun. Their forehead is broad and fiat; 
their eyes small, black, and very deep sunk ; their nose flattish, 
broad towards the nostrils, vrith a sort of curve at the extremity 
approaching the lip. Their hair is long, coarse, and black, and 
always moistened with a quantity of cocoa-nut oil. By some it 
is worn flowing loose over their shoulders, while others twist it 
up into a knot which they fasten on the back of the head with 
tortoise-shell combs. Some of the poorer sort bind it up with 
a coloured handkerchief. 
The Malays of a higher rank wear a wide Moorish coat or 
gown, which they call badjoiir, not unlike our dressing-gowns. 
It is composed of rich flowered silk, or fine cotton of various 
colours, according to the fancy of the wearer. Their under dress 
consists of a vest of silk or calico, called hadjou, and worn close 
to their bodies, with loose wide drawers of the same stuff. On 
their head, they wear a dress of a curious shape, neither tur- 
ban nor cap, but something of both, and often elegantly orna- 
mented. The slipper or sandal in use among them, is the same 
with that worn by the Moors. Tlie dress of the poorer sort 
consists of a piece of cotton wrapped round their waists, with 
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