86 
FJSCICUU AULAYENSES 
mild debt slavery, to which even persons of the raja class frequently submit, 
finding it less irksome than an independent existence. Formerly, if a person 
owed two dollars which he could not pay, he was obliged to work for his 
creditor until he could so, and if he died insolvent, the obligation was 
distributed in equal shares between his children of both sexes. We heard 
that the Siamese were trying to abolish this system, but their methods of so 
doing were not explained, and in any case it appears to do little harm beyond 
encouraging improvidence ; for strict laws, and, what is more important, a 
consistent public opinion, regulate the relationship between masters and 
servants, who, besides being fed and clothed, are generally provided with 
tobacco and the like. Immoral relations between a master and a female slave, 
at any rate among the Malays, are heavily punished, unless it can be proved 
that she has consented freely. 
The Siamese recognize no hereditary nobility among themselves, except 
in the blood royal, which does not exist in Lower Siam j but the Patani 
Malays have four titles which descend in the male line. The highest is that 
of raj a t which is correctly applied to all persons of both sexes who can claim 
an unbroken descent on both sides from the mythical founder of the Malay 
race, but which, owing to Siamese influence, has now a very much more 
general use. It is even granted to certain persons by the King of Siam, 
but the Malays hardly recognize the validity of such creations. Persons 
whose fathers belong to the raja class but whose mothers do not, and their 
descendants, are called m. The next title is that of wan, which is said to have 
its origin in an ancient salutation given to persons met within a house ; 
while inthe % frequently abbreviated to 'cbc y the lowest hereditary title, is 
believed to have been the ancient greeting given to persons met on the road. 
Though properly a hereditary title, however, this last appellation is frequently 
bestowed by popular consent on persons of respectability who have no legiti¬ 
mate claim to it. Datob , grandfather or lord, is a term of respect given to 
all persons of any age who hold official positions among the Malays, while 
tuan i master, is the correct way of addressing European men—white women are 
called mem— Mecca pilgrims, or baji 7 of both sexes and the wives of high 
Siamese officials, the officials themselves generally preferring to be called 
Tuanku , Your Highness ! 
The customs of fosterage and adoption are very common among the 
Patani Malays, well-to-do people very frequently giving their children to be 
brought up by poorer neighbours, with whose children they live as equals. 
Friends often exchange children, childless people adopt those of those who 
have many, divorced women and widows bring the offspring of former marriages 
