COMPARISON BETWEEN JAKUNS AND MALAYS. 275 
happens presently. In order to plunder strangers who journey a- 
mongst them they must know in detail all the parts which compose 
his property; this is the reason of so many questions, more or less 
importunate, which they put to the traveller, upon his state, his for* 
tune, his position; an the objects contained in his baggage, which 
must be unfolded and examined in detail and which they as surely 
ask for as a gift; then the traveller must consider himself as warn¬ 
ed, and direct his particular attention to the things which were asked 
for, as they are in danger of disappearing. 
I recollect that when journeying in Johole, every time I reached 
a campong of Jakuns, and entered any house, where I intended to 
stop, at once a woman of the family took a basket, went away, and 
a few minutes after, entered again with some ktades or other vege¬ 
table, which were cooked and presented to me about half an hour 
after my arrival. When the next day I offered to them some small 
articles, as a return, they received them with some appearence of 
shame; so much so, that I was obliged to show them, that this wa3 
not a present, but a debt; and that I was only doing according to the 
custom of my native country, where a traveller must always give some 
thing to the owner of the house where he has slept. On the con¬ 
trary on my entering any Malay home, I perceived that the chief of 
the family, in the persuasion that this was a lucky wind-fall not to 
be lost, began, at once, by taking every means to speculate upon me; 
hence the exaggerated difficulties to continue the journey, which are 
made to appear as impossible, for want of coolies, of guides, &c.— 
which signifies, “ If you do not give me some good prescnt y you 
shall not pass farther ” The traveller may give as much as may be 
In his power, yet. this will never be Sufficient. The actions of Ma¬ 
lays generally show low sentiments, and a sordid feeling; but the Ja¬ 
kuns are naturally proud and generous. 
These two people, so different in many points, are notwithstand¬ 
ing similar iu some respects: both are ignorant, and consequently 
superstitious. In these two points they resemble each other, with 
this difference that the Malays are ignorant and pretend to be the 
most enlightened people and refuse to hear any body. The Jakuns are 
