1 66 
THE ISLAND OF CEYLON. 
offences by a court composed wholly of their own native 
officers, who are acquainted with their language and cus- 
toms, and thus afford a security of every justice being ren- 
dered to the accused. The patience with which the Malays 
submit to the sentence of their court-martial, and their re- 
fraining from revenge when they are assured that justice is 
intended them, is another striking argument in support of 
what I have already advanced, that mild and generous treat- 
ment will in the end have the effect of subduing their 
natural ferocity. 
