MALAY DANCING-GIRLS. 
73 
turned over to a class of men whose only duty it is to 
arrive at the one end of having their bones and muscles 
in such a state, by the time they are matured, as to admit 
of the form being thrown into almost any position. 
They are described as happy, cheerful creatures, in spite 
of the cruelty of their early training.” 
One more extract in regard to Java, and I have done. 
We were talking of pirates — Malay pirates — ^who hung 
around Gaspar Straits, — the very place we were going 
to survey. The subject was interesting, especially to 
nervous people who were about to venture among them: — 
“ ‘They are getting scarce, now, since war-steamers 
have visited us,’ remarked one of the party. ‘It is only 
once or twice a year that we hear of their attacking a 
ship: still, they are known to exist in numbers. You 
will have to look out for them in your little schooner: 
they would make short work of her' I thought of the 
high sides of the Kennedy, and felt comfortable. I 
little thought that in less than a month I should be 
ordered, with a boat and six men, to join the Cooper: 
had I known it, my feelings might have been a shade 
less placid.” 
We are again under all sail, beating up for our work- 
ing-ground. 
