why the Permatang Pasir men would not go with us through the jungle to
Rassa。
A vile fiend called the penangalan takes possession of the forms of
women； turns them into witches； and compels them to quit the greater
part of their bodies； and flyaway by night to gratify a vampire craving
for human blood。 This is very like one of the ghoul stories in the
_Arabian Nights Entertainments_。 Then they have a specter huntsman with
demon dogs who roams the forests； and a storm fiend who rides the
whirlwind； and spirits borrowed from Persia and Arabia。 It almost seems
as if the severe monotheism to which they have been converted compels
them to create a gigantic demonology。
They have also many odd but harmless superstitions： For instance； that
certain people have the power of making themselves invulnerable by the
agency of spirits； that the regalia of the States are possessed of
supernatural powers； that the wearing of a tiger claw prevents disease；
that rude 〃Aeolian harps〃 hung up in trees will keep the forest goblins
from being troublesome； that charms and amulets worn or placed about a
house ward off many evils； that at dangerous rapids； such as those of
Jerom Pangong on the Perak river； the spirits must be propitiated by
offerings of betel…nut and bananas； that to insure good luck a betel…
chewer must invariably spit to the left； that it is unlucky either to
repair or pull down a house； that spirits can be propitiated and
diseases can be kept away by hanging up palm leaves and cages in the
neighborhood of kampongs； and many others。 They also believe as firmly
as the Chinese do in auspicious and inauspicious days； spells； magic；
and a species of astrology。 I hope that Mr。 Maxwell will publish his
investigations into these subjects。
〃Running amuck〃 （amok） is supposed by some to be the result of
〃possession；〃 but now； at least； it is comparatively uncommon in these
States。 A Malay is on some points excessively sensitive regarding his
honor； and to wipe out a stain upon it by assassinating the offender is
considered as correct and in accordance with etiquette as dueling
formerly was in our own country。 In cases； however； in which the
offender is of higher rank than the injured man； the latter in despair
sometimes resorts to opium； and； rushing forth in a frenzy； slays all
he can lay hands upon。 This indiscriminate slaying is the amok proper。
In certain cases； such as those arising out of jealousy； the desire for
vengeance gains absolute possession of a Malay。 Mr。 Newbold says that
he has seen letters regarding insults in which the writers say； 〃I
ardently long for his blood to clean my face；〃 or 〃I ardently long for
his blood to wash out the pollution of the hog's flesh with which he
has smeared me！〃
Considering how punctilious and courteous the Malays are； how rough
many of the best of us are； how brutal in manner many of us are； and
how inconsiderate our sailors are of the customs of foreign peoples；
especially in regard to the seclusion of their women； it is wonderful
that bloody revenge is not more common than it is。
〃Amok〃 means a furious and reckless onset。 When Mr。 Birch was murdered；
the cry 〃amok！ amok！〃 was raised； and the passion of murder seized on
all present。 Only about a year ago one of the sons of the Rajah Muda
Yusuf； a youth of twenty； was suddenly seized with this monomania； drew
his kris； and rushing at people killed six； wounded two； and then
escaped into the jungle。 Major M'Nair says that a Malay； in speaking of
amok； says： 〃My eyes got dark； and I ran on。〃
In Malacca Captain Shaw told me that 〃running amuck〃 was formerly very
common； and that on an expedition he made； one of his own attendants
was suddenly seized with the 〃amok〃 frenzy。 He mentioned that he had
known of as many as forty people being injured by a single 〃amok〃
runner。 When the cry 〃amok！ amok！〃 is raised； people fly to the right
and left for shelter； for after the blinded madman's kris has once
〃drank blood；〃 his fury becomes ungovernable； his sole desire is to
kill； he strikes here and there； men fall along his course； he stabs
fugitives in the back； his kris drips blood； he rushes on yet more
wildly； blood and murder in his course； there are shrieks and groans；
his bloodshot eyes start from their sockets； his frenzy gives him
unnatural strength； then all of a sudden he drops； shot through the
heart； or from sudden exhaustion； clutching his bloody kris even in the
act of rendering up his life。
As his desire is to kill everybody； so； as he rushes on； everybody's
desire is to kill him； and gashed from behind or wounded by shots； his
course is often red with his own blood。 Under English rule the great
object of the police is to take the 〃amok〃 runner alive； and have him
tried like an ordinary criminal for murder； and if he can be brought to
bay； as he sometimes is； they succeed in pinning him to the wall by
means of such a stout two…pronged fork as I saw kept for the purpose in
Malacca。 Usually； however the fate of the 〃amok〃 runner is a violent
death； and men feel no more scruple about killing him in his frenzy
than they would about killing a man…eating tiger。 I hear that this form
of frenzy affects the Malays of all the islands of the Archipelago。
Some people attribute it to the excessive use of opium by unprepared
constitutions； and others to monomania arising from an unusual form of
digestive disturbance； but from it being peculiar to Malays； I rather
incline to Major M'Nair's view： 〃There can be no doubt that the amok
had its origin in the deed of some desperate Malay； that tradition
handed it down to his highly…sensitive successors； and the example was
followed and continues to be followed as the right thing to do by those
who are excited to frenzy by apprehension； or by some injury that they
regard as deadly； and only to be washed out in blood。〃
I have been interrupted by a visit from two disconsolate…looking
Ceylon planters； who have come 〃prospecting〃 for coffee。 An
enterprising son of an Edinburgh 〃Bailie〃 has been trying
coffee…planting beyond the Perak； but he has got into difficulties with
his laborers； and is 〃getting out of it。〃 This difficulty about labor
will possibly have to be solved by the introduction of coolies from
India； for the Malays won't work except for themselves； and the Chinese
not only prefer the excitement of mining； and the evening hubbub of the
mining towns； but in lonely places they are not always very manageable
by people unused to them。
Even for clearing the jungle foreign labor must be employed。 Perak is a
healthy and splendid State； and while the low grounds are suited for
sugar； tapioca； and tobacco； the slopes of the hills will produce
coffee； cinchona； vanilla； tea； cloves； and nutmegs。 It is a land of
promise； but at present of promise only！ I understand that to start a
plantation a capital of from 2；500 pounds to 3；500 pounds would be
required。 Jungle is cleared at the rate of 25s。 per acre。 The wages of
Javanese coolies are 1s。 a day； and a hut which will hold fifty of them
can be put up for 5 pounds。 Land can be had for three years free of
charge。 It is then granted in perpetuity for a dollar an acre； and
there is a tax of 2…1/2 per cent。 on exported produce。 These
arrangements are not regarded as altogether satisfactory； and will
probably be improved upon。 Tell some of our friends who have sons with
practical good sense； but more muscle than brains； that there are
openings in the jungles of Perak！ Good sense； perseverance；
steadiness； and a degree of knowledge of planting； are； however；
preliminary requisites。
The two 〃prospectors〃 look as if they had heard couleur de rose
reports； and had not 〃struck ile。〃 Possibly they expected to find
hotels and macadamized roads。 Roads must precede planting； I think；
unless there are available lands near the rivers。
I have mentioned slavery and debt…slavery more than once。 The latter
is a great curse in Perak； and being a part of 〃Malay custom〃 which our
treaties bind us to respect； it is very difficult to deal with。 In the
little States of Sungei Ujong and Selangor； with their handful of
Malays； it has been abolished with comparative ease。 In Perak； with its
comparatively large Malay population； about four thousand are slaves；
and the case seems full of complications。
Undoubtedly the existence of slavery has been one cause of the decay of
the native States； and of the exodus of Malays into the British
settlements。 Some people palliate the system； and speak of it as 〃a
mild form of domestic servitude；〃 but Mr。 Birch； the late murdered
Resident； wrote of it in these strong terms： 〃I believe that the system
as practiced in Perak at the present time involves evils and cruelties
which are unknown to any but those who have actually lived in these
States。〃
From the moment a man or woman becomes a debtor； he or she； if unable
to pay； may be taken up by the creditor； and may be treated as a slave；
being made to work in any way that the creditor chooses； the debtor's
earnings belonging to the creditor； who allows no credit toward the
reduction of the debt。 To make the hardship greater； if a relative or
friend comes forward to pay the debt； the creditor has the right to
refuse payment； and to keep his slave； whose only hope of bettering
himself is in getting his owner to accept payment for him from a third
party； so that he may become the slave of the person who has ransomed
him。
But there are worse evils still； for in cases where a married man
contracts a debt； his wife and existing children； those who may
hereafter be born； and their descendants； pass into slavery； and all；
male and female； are compelled as slaves to work for their master； who
in very many cases compels the women and girls to live a life of
degradation for his benefit； and even the wives of a creditor are well
satisfied to receive the earnings of these poor creatures。 If a debt be
contracted by an unmarried man or woman； and he or she marry
afterwards； the person so taken in marriage and all the offspring
become slave debtors。 The worst features of the system are seen where a
Rajah is the creditor； for he is the last man to be willing to r