THE ISLAND OF GE YUS®. ^5 
was as fierce ami warlike as the inselves. Accustomed to de- 
pend upon their courage, and avenge their own cause, there 
is more independence of spirit, and more appearance of a 
lofty intrepidity found among them, than among any otlier 
of the servile tribes of the east. Brave, ferocious, and des- 
perate to the last degree, on any occasion that requires blood 
to be shed; cruel and revengeful in their wrath, beyond what 
human nature can almost be thought capable of, they arc 
looked upon with horror by the effeminate and timid In- 
dians. I have often had occasion to observe these senti- 
ments in the natives of Ceylon, who start affrighted on ac- 
cidentally meeting a Malay soldier. 
The arms which the Malays carry, are well suited to their 
savage and bloody disposition; and as on receiving any real 
or imaginary injury, they make no hesitation to sacrifice their 
own life in taking away that of the object they have marked 
out for vengeance, they often do incredible mischief with the 
weapons which they wear about them. These consist of a 
kind of dagger, called a Krcese or Crisse; the blade of which 
is of the best tempered steel, and often made of a serpentine 
form, so as to inflict a most dreadful wound. The handle 
is of ivory or wood, carved into the figure of a man’s body 
and arms, with a head representing something between that 
of a man and a bird. This they call their Stvammy or god ; 
and to this figure they make their salam, or obeisance, before 
they draw the kreese to execute any bloody purpose on which 
they have determined. After they have by this ceremony 
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