the golden chersonese and the way thither-第59章

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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　receive
payment　of　a　debt　and　free　the　debtor；　for　the　number　of　his　followers；
even　if　they　are　but　women　and　girls；　increases　his　consequence；　and
debtors　when　once　taken　into　a　Rajah's　household　are　looked　upon　as
being　as　much　a　part　of　his　property　as　his　cattle　or　elephants。　Mr。
Swettenham；　the　Assistant　Colonial　Secretary　of　the　Straits
Settlements；　writes　that　〃in　Perak　the　cruelties　exercised　toward
debtors　are　even　exclaimed　at　by　Malays　in　the　other　States。〃*　In
Selangor；　where　it　is　said　that　slavery　has　been　quietly　abolished；
only　five　years　ago　the　second　son　of　that　quiet…looking　Abdul　Samat
killed　three　slave　debtors　for　no　other　reason　than　that　he　willed　it；
and　when　two　girls　and　a　boy；　slave　debtors　of　the　Sultan's；　ran　away；
this　same　bloodthirsty　son　caught　them；　took　the　boy　into　a　field；　and
had　him　krissed。　His　wife；　saying　she　was　going　to　bathe　in　the　Langat
river；　told　the　two　girls　to　follow　her　to　a　log　which　lay　in　the　water
a　few　yards　from　her　house；　where　they　were　seized；　and　a　boy　follower
of　her　husband　took　them　successively　by　the　hair　and　held　their　heads
under　the　water　with　his　foot　till　they　were　dead；　when　their　corpses
were　left　upon　the　slimy　bank。　The　Sultan；　to　do　him　justice；　was　very
angry　when　his　son　went　to　him　and　said；　〃I　have　thrown　away　those
children　who　ran　away。〃　
＇*For　Mr。　Swettenham's　_Report　on　Slavery　in　the　Native　States_；　see
Appendix　B。＇

In　Perak　it　has　been　the　custom　to　hunt　and　capture　the　Jakun　women　and
make　them　and　their　children　slaves。

Instances　of　cruelty　have　greatly　diminished　since　British　influence
has　entered　Perak；　and　I　should　think　that　Mr。　　Low　will　ere　long
mature　a　scheme　for　the　emancipation　of　all　persons　held　in　bondage。*　I
heard　of　a　curious　case　this　morning。　The　aunt　of　a　Malay　policeman　in
Larut；　passing　near　a　village；　met　an　acquaintance；　and　taking　a　stone
from　the　roadside　sat　down　upon　it　while　she　stopped　to　talk；　and　on
getting　up　forgot　to　remove　it。　An　hour　later　a　village　child　tripped
over　the　stone　and　slightly　cut　its　forehead。　The　placing　the　stone　in
the　pathway　was　traced　to　the　woman；　who　was　arrested　and　sentenced　to
pay　a　fine　of　25；　and　being　unable　to　pay　it　she　and　her　children
became　slave…debtors　to　the　father　of　the　child　which　had　been　hurt。　In
this　case；　though　Captain　Speedy　lent　the　policeman　money　wherewith　to
pay　his　aunt's　fine；　the　creditor　repeatedly　refused　to　receive　it；
preferring　to　exercise　his　prerogative　of　holding　the　family　as　his
rightful　slaves。　　
＇*Such　a　scheme　is　now　under　consideration。　See　Appendix　C。＇

Slavery　and　polygamy；　the　usual　accompaniments　of　Islamism；　go　far　to
account　for　the　decay　of　these　States。

I　wish　it　were　possible　to　know　to　what　extent　the　Malays　are　a
〃religious〃　people　as　Moslems。　That　they　are　bigots　and　have
successfully　resisted　all　attempts　to　convert　them　to　Christianity
there　is　no　doubt；　as　well　as　that　they　are　ignorant　and　grossly
superstitious。　Their　prayers；　so　far　as　I　can　hear　anything　about　them；
consist　mainly　of　reiterated　confessions　of　belief　in　the　Divine　unity；
and　of　simple　appeals　for　mercy　now　and　at　the　last　day。

The　pilgrimage　to　Mecca　is　made　not　only　once；　but　twice　and　thrice　by
those　who　can　afford　it；　and　at　much　cost　earthen　jars　containing　water
from　the　holy　well　of　Zem…zem；　the　well　said　to　have　been　shown　to
Hagar　in　the　wilderness；　are　brought　home　by　the　pilgrims　for
themselves　and　their　friends　for　use　in　the　hour　of　death；　when　Eblis；
the　devil；　is　supposed　to　stand　by　offering　a　bowl　of　the　purest　water
with　which　to　tempt　the　soul　to　abjure　its　faith　in　the　unity　of　God。
One　of　the　declarations　most　commonly　used　is；　〃There　is　no　God　but　God
alone；　whose　covenant　is　truth　and　whose　servant　is　victorious。　There
is　no　God　but　God　without　a　partner。　His　is　the　kingdom；　to　Him　be
praise；　and　He　over　all　things　is　Almighty。〃　There　is　a　grand　ring　of
Old　Testament　truth　about　these　words；　though　of　a　melancholy　half
truth　only。

The　men　who　make　the　Mecca　pilgrimage　are　not　regarded　by　the　English
who　know　them　as　a　〃holy　lot〃；　in　fact；　they　are　said　to　lead　idle
lives；　and　to　〃live　like　leeches　on　the　toil　of　their　fellow…men；〃
inciting　the　people　〃to　revolt　or　to　make　amok。〃　Doubtless　it　adds　to　a
man's　consequence　for　life　to　be　privileged　to　wear　the　Arab　costume
and　to　be　styled　Tuan　hadji。　Yet　they　may　have　been　stirred　to　devotion
and　contrition　at　the　time　as　they　circled　the　Kaabeh　reciting　such
special　prayers　as；　〃O　God；　I　extend　my　hands　to　Thee；　great　is　my
longing　towards　Thee。　Oh　accept　Thou　my　supplications；　remove　my
hindrances；　pity　my　humiliation；　and　mercifully　grant　me　Thy　pardon；〃
and　〃O　my　God；　verily　I　take　refuge　with　Thee　from　idolatry；　and
disobedience；　and　every　hypocrisy；　and　from　evil　conversation；　and　evil
thoughts　concerning　property；　and　children；　and　family；〃　or；　〃O　God；　I
beg　of　Thee　that　faith　which　shall　not　fall　away；　and　that　certainty
which　shall　not　perish；　and　the　good　aid　of　Thy　prophet　Mohammedmay
God　bless　and　preserve　him！　O　God；　shade　me　with　Thy　shadow　in　that　day
when　there　is　no　shade　but　Thy　shadow；　and　cause　me　to　drink　from　the
cup　of　Thy　apostle　Mohammedmay　God　bless　him　and　preserve　him！　that
pleasant　draught　after　which　is　no　thirst　to　all　eternity。　　O　Lord　of
honor　and　glory。〃*　
＇*I　have　preferred　to　give；　instead　of　the　translation　of　these　prayers
which　I　obtained　in　Malacca；　one　introduced　by　Canon　Tristram　into　a
delightful　paper　on　Mecca　in　the　_Sunday　at　Home_　for　February；　1883。＇

As　I　write；　I　look　down　upon　Taipeng　on　〃a　people　wholly　given　to
idolatry。〃　This　is　emphatically　〃The　dark　Peninsula；〃　though　both
Protestants　and　Romanists　have　made　attempts　to　win　the　Malays　to
Christianity。　It　may　be　that　the　relentless　crusade　waged　by　the
Portuguese　against　Islamism　has　made　the　opposition　to　the　Cross　more
sullen　and　bigoted　than　it　would　otherwise　have　been。　Christian
missionary　effort　is　now　chiefly　among　the　Chinese；　and　by　means　of
admirable　girls'　schools　in　Singapore；　Malacca；　and　Pinang。

In　Taipeng　five　dialects　of　Chinese　are　spoken；　and　Chinamen　constantly
communicate　with　each　other　in　Malay；　because　they　can't　understand
each　other's　Chinese。　They　must　spend　large　sums　on　opium；　for　the
right　to　sell　it　has　been　let　for　4；000　pounds　a　year！

Mr。　Maxwell　tells　me　that　the　Malay　proverbs　are　remarkably　numerous
and　interesting。　To　me　the　interest　of　them　lies　chiefly　in　their
resemblance　to　the　ideas　gathered　up　in　the　proverbs　of　ourselves　and
the　Japanese。*　
＇*Mr。　Maxwell　has　since　published　a　paper　on　Malay　proverbs　in　the
Transactions　of　the　Straits　branch　of　the　Royal　Asiatic　Society。　I　have
not　been　able　to　obtain　it；　but　I　understand　that　it　contains　a　very
copious　and　valuable　collection　of　Malay　proverbial　philosophy。＇

Thus；　〃Out　of　the　frying…pan　into　the　fire〃　is；　〃Freed　from　the　mouth
of　the　alligator　to　fall　into　the　tiger's　jaws。〃　〃It's　an　ill　wind　that
blows　nobody　good；〃　is；　〃When　the　junk　is　wrecked　the　shark　gets　his
fill。〃　〃The　creel　tells　the　basket　it　is　coarsely　plaited〃　is
equivalent　to　〃The　kettle　calling　the　pot　black。〃　〃For　dread　of　the
ghost　to　clasp　the　corpse；〃　has　a　grim　irony　about　it　that　I　like。

Certain　Scriptural　proverbial　phrases　have　their　Malay　counterparts。
Thus；　the　impossibility　of　the　Ethiopian　changing　his　skin　or　the
leopard　his　spots　is　represented　by　〃Though　you　may　feed　a　jungle…fowl
off　a　gold　plate；　it　will　make　for　the　jungle　all　the　same。〃　〃Casting
pearls　before　swine〃　by　〃What　is　the　use　of　the　peacock　strutting　in
the　jungle？〃　〃Can　these　stones　become　bread？〃　by　〃Can　the　earth　become
grain？〃　〃Neither　can　salt　water　yield　sweet；〃　by　a　very　elaborate
axiom；　〃You　may　plant　the　bitter　cucumber　in　a　bed　of　sago；　manure　it
with　honey；　water　it　with　molasses；　and　train　it　over　sugar　cane；　but
it　will　be　the　bitter　cucumber　still；〃　and　〃Clear　water　cannot　be　drawn
from　a　muddy　fountain。〃

Some　of　their　sayings　are　characteristic。　In　allusion　to　the　sport　of
cock…fighting；　a　coward　is　called　〃a　duck　with　spurs。〃　A　treacherous
person　is　said　to　〃sit　like　a　cat；　but　leap　like　a　tiger；〃　and　of　a
chatterer　it　is　said；　〃The　tortoise　produces　a　myriad　eggs　and　no　one
knows　it；　the　hen　lays　one　and　tells　the　whole　word。〃　〃Grinding　pepper
for　a　bird　on　the　wing〃　is　regarded　as　equivalent　to　〃First　catch　you
hare　before　you　cook　it。〃　〃To　plant　sugar…cane　on　the　lips〃　is　to　be
〃All　things　to　all　men。〃　Fatalism　is　expressed　by　a　saying；　〃Even　the
fish　which　inhabit　the　seventh　depth　of　the　sea　sooner　or　later　enter
the　net。〃　〃Now　it　is　wet；　now　it　is　fine；〃　is　a　common　way　of　saying
that　a　day　of　revenge　is　not　far　off。　Secrecy　is　enjoined　by　the
cynical　axiom；　〃If　you　have　rice；　hide　it　under　the　unhusked　grain。〃
〃The　last　degree　of　stinginess　is　not　to　disturb　the　mildew；〃　is　a　neat
axiom；　and　〃The　plantain　does　not　bear　fruit　twice；〃　tells　that　the
Malays　have　an　inkling　that　〃There　is　a　tide　in　the　affairs　of　men；〃
etc。

I　have　found　it　very　interesting　to　be　the　guest　o