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colour, though variations between very dark brown 
and light yellow are to be found. Beard is scanty 
and the body tends to be hairless. The nose is often 
rather sunken at the root and broad in the nostrils. 
Probably the Malay is a blend of Mongolian, Indone- 
sian and other elements. There is a good deal of 
variety of type both among men and women, this 
being due, I take it, to the mixed origin of the 
race. Thus small and delicate noses are not un- 
common, and strong chins are to be seen, though 
as a rule they tend to be weak. Hair is normally 
straightly, but persons with wavy, or even curly, 
hair can be found. 
The popular The Malays are a much maligned 
idea of a people. The popular idea of a Malay, 
Malay. in England, seems to be that he is a 
cruel and treacherous pirate armed 
with a poisoned dagger called a creese, who is, 
without rhyme or reason, perpetually “ running 
amuck ” among the members of more peaceful 
nationalities. Some residents of Malaya say that 
the Malay is lazy and cumbers the earth. As a 
matter of fact, in some matters, the European could 
well afford to learn from the Malay, as well as the 
Malay from the European. 
Malay The Malay is a somewhat reserved 
character. person and, at first sight, might appear 
to be of a sullen disposition, but a 
jesting word or two in his own language will usually 
break up the reserve and produce a smile and, in 
the young, a flash of gleaming white teeth. Manners 
are, as a rule, excellent, but in villages off the beaten 
track you must be prepared to be asked all sorts 
of questions once the people begin to talk to you. 
