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Malays of Ceylon. 
throw themselves into a phrenzy, that no sentiment either of 
humanity or fear may turn them aside from their bloody pur- 
pose. Some, who are anxious to clear human nature from such 
stains, without considering that they arise from situation and 
circumstances, attribute the unparalleled barbarity of the Malays 
to the quantity of opium which they take from their infancy, 
in consequence of which they are in an almost perpetual state 
of delirium. This delirium, however, is not of longer continu- 
ance than till the intoxicating quality of the drug has spent its 
force. In the intervals they are completely masters of themselves; 
it is then they plan their enterprises ; and the quantity of bang 
which they take is proportioned to their determination to per- 
petrate the crime they are about to commit. In fact, their 
institutions and their religion are sufficient to account for their 
character, without seeking for any other cause, and without ac- 
cusing nature of having produced monsters. 
The manner in which the Malays undertake to accomplish 
their revenge gives the most striking example of their ferocious 
dispositions. When a Malay has suffered any injury or griev- 
ance, real or imaginary, and ever so slight, the most dreadful 
thirst of revenge appears to take possession of his whole soul. 
He makes a vow to destroy the object of his vengeance, to- 
gether with every other person who comes in his way, till he 
meet death from some hand or other. To prepare himself for 
this dreadful exploit, he takes a large quantity of bang, then 
draws his poisoned kreese, and rushing headlong into the street, 
stabs indiscriminately every one that comes in his way ; at the 
same time crying aloud, amolt, amolc, or kill, kill, from whence 
this horrid mode of revenge is termed by Europeans running a 
muck. The fury of the devoted wretch is indescribable, and the 
