14 6 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
always a long string of sounding names, beginning with Don 
Juan, Don Fernando, & c. 
They have no regular cast, and are usually esteemed the 
worst race of people in India. Originally a spurious and out- 
cast brood, they retain only the blemishes which tarnished 
the characters of their ancestors ; and they combine all the 
vices of the Europeans and Indians, without any of their 
virtues. 
It was from these black Portuguese, that the troops known 
by the name of Topasses were taken. They were called 2b- 
passes from wearing hats, instead of turbans; the word topee, 
or chaupee , which appears to be a corruption of the French 
chapeau, being the term used in their language for a hat. 
They were never accounted good soldiers, being neither so 
hardy nor so brave, as the Sepoys ; and were seldom employed 
in the English service. The French, however, very generally 
had corps of them at Pondicherry, and their other settle- 
ments. 
The Malays are another race, who form a considerable pro- 
portion of the inhabitants of Ceylon. This race, which is 
known to Europeans chiefly by the accounts of its barbarous 
ferocity, is widely scattered over the Eastern parts of India. 
Their original empire lies in the peninsula of Malacca ; and 
from thence they have extended themselves over Java, Suma- 
tra, the Moluccas, the Phillippines, and a vast number of 
other islands in the Archipelago of India. It is difficult to 
determine the date of their first introduction into Ceylon ; but 
