MALAY AMOKS AND PIRACIES. 
464 
it is clear that such a condition of mind is inconsistent with 
a regard for consequences. The pleasures of life have no 
attractions, and its pains no dread, for a man reduced to the 
gloomy despair and inward rage of the perigamo’. A govern¬ 
ment cannot medicine a mind diseased, but it can confine the 
evil to the sufferer himself. The Malay, compelled from boy¬ 
hood to trust to his kris for the protection of his person and 
his honour, considers it as a part of his existence. A state 
of society which requires every individual to be ready at any¬ 
time to use his kris is quite inconsistent with a horror of 
shedding blood. Now so weak are we in police in our own 
settlements and so impotent beyond them that it is not safe 
for a Malay to travel by land or sea without being armed. 
The first step, therefore, towards the prevention of amoks is 
the suppression, as far as is practicable, of robbery on land 
and piracy at sea, to be followed by the abolition of the habit ot 
private persons wearing weapons. While a Malay of Singa¬ 
pore cannot set out on a voyage to the back of the island, to 
Johore or to Siak, without risk of being robbed and killed, 
lie cannot go unarmed; and until he ceases to carry arms, and 
learns to trust for protection and vengeance to the government 
under which he lives, there can be no security that, if subject¬ 
ed to misfortune, insult or oppression, he will not run a muck. 
Tlie cost of the produce supplied by the Malays is so greatly 
enhanced by the necessity of protecting themselves on their 
voyages, that the employment of additional force by govern¬ 
ment for the suppression of piracy, and the adopting cf 
measures in concert with the native authorities, would soon 
shew a direct action on trade. Piracy raises the cost of all 
native produce brought to Singapore; it gives the bold a 
monopoly of carriage; and obliges them to go in larger 
numbers and with a more expensive equipment than would 
otherwise he necessary. 
Experience has shewn that the Malay chiefs of the Penin¬ 
sula are quite willing to co-operate in the abolition of piracy, 
but they require to be constantly pushed, directed and en¬ 
couraged.* It is only by engaging all the powers in the 
western part of the Archipelago to act in concert, that effectual 
measures can be taken. The pirates must be tracked by a 
combination of information and action, until they find they 
* The good that has 'been accomplished in the vicinity of Singapore by 
Colonel Butterwoith’s UBing his official influence with the Tamunggong for 
the suppression of piracy, shews how much may bs done when it is tried. When 
there is a will there is a way, How mucSi more could the Governor of tte 
Straits effect, with very little additional outlay, if be acted in pursuance of a 
sja;em organised and carried out by the English Government, and in co opera¬ 
tion with the other means adopted by it. 
