Sometimes one of them is struck down by an infectious disease for which they know no remedy or cure. The sick person is at once isolated from all the rest and is almost entirely abandoned in order to check any propagation of the malady.

I have never noticed any illness which might be considered as peculiar to the people themselves or the region they inhabit but I have been able to establish the fact (from a special study made by me as to the causes of death among the Sakais) that the victims of wild beasts and serpents are on a very low average.

It is quite an extraordinary thing for anybody to lose their life in this way if they have not by some imprudence brought death upon themselves.

I only remember, perhaps because it took place not long ago, that a young woman incautiously wandered away from her hut one evening, as it was getting dark, and was attacked by a panther which fastened its teeth into her lower jaw. Hearing her scream the husband rushed out just in time to kill the animal and save his poor wife's life, but she, of course, remained deformed.

* * * * *

The pharmacopoeia of these foresters, freed from all superstition, is of truly primitive simplicity and only contains vegetable remedies. A decoction of the root tenak celes is an excellent purgative. A poultice made of its leaves pounded with lime and sirih and applied to the forehead is intended to cure headache.

The sla delok (a bitter leaf) serves in the place of our worm powders for children.

Another leaf (the sla poo) is used for curing dysentry.

They have also several other medicines (whose virtues are kept secret by the Ala) for complaints of the stomach or that may be used at will without any precise knowledge of the illness needing treatment.

The gum extracted from the singret is employed for stopping decayed teeth and is also rubbed over the cheek during a fit of tooth-ache to preserve it from the air, without putting on bandages.

The Sakai makes great use of charcoal powder in his medicinal preparations, dressing sores, wounds and the bites of animals with it. This might make one suppose that he either knows or divines the disinfecting properties of charcoal. He also makes it a means of defence against the invasions of ants which change their direction when they find the black line across their way.

The water in which a piece of charcoal, made from bitter wood, has been for a long time infused, is according to them a first-rate remedy against debility of the organism and coughs.

The Ala wisely acting for—his own good, reserves for himself the prerogative of mixing certain pharmaceutical specialities which make the patient recover if the indisposition is merely a passing one, but help to kill him if the conditions of his health are serious.

He always keeps prompt some plasters prepared from herbs, either of a soothing or irritating nature, in case of fractures, sprains, or dislocations caused by accidental falls.

But it is scarcely worth while to discuss the merits of these cataplasms, for the Sakai, who is the first person interested in the question, acknowledges and admits their healing virtues.

All the world is akin, and the much respected Ala of the forest is nothing less than an uncivilized colleague of those charlatans, inventors of miracles, who by the sale of powders, lotions, medicinal waters and ointments make their fortune in the midst of civilized society, often deceiving science and common sense by means of well placed advertisements.

One is an educated and the other an uneducated quack.



My notes finish here. They are wanting in order and art but not in verity because above all I have dedicated this writing to the truth, prompted by feelings of gratitude and good will towards my kind friends the savages. I have wished to illustrate the customs and character of a people very much calumniated, amongst whom I have found strong and devoted friendship free from every taint of jealousy or self-interest.

Sixteen years of a tranquil, laborious life have I passed among the Sakais and still to-day I feel a pang of home-sickness thinking of that wonderfully fertile land and its good and simple inhabitants.

If my words have been clear to you, dear reader, you must have remarked that in those savages are to be found real treasures of uprightness, honesty and common sense. And the first seeds of these virtues were sown by nobody for they bud and blossom in their souls as spontaneously as from the bosom of great Mother Nature the marvellous multitude of flora rises up towards the sun, seeking light and heat.

It is not so amongst us. Civilization teaches virtue: sermons preach it; moralists condense it into precepts and aphorisms; historians honour it in the ancients in order to inspire it in the moderns; laws, and the menaces of Hell, want to impose it. And yet, notwithstanding all this, it cannot flower well for too often it is fettered by the frenzy of "getting ahead" and by the spasms of passions which in the superb majesty of the forest, and under its sublime influence, are neither known nor understood. Here one works serenely, undisturbed by the fear that others will rob you of your profit.

I mention the fact but leave others to draw the conclusion because if I arrived at that which would seem most logical after the premise, I should be called a worse savage than those I have held up to public admiration and if I arrived at any other I should be accused (and with reason) of contradiction.

I will instead declare that, in spite of certain discouraging proofs, I firmly keep my faith in human progress, believing that Science will one day succeed in lessening the grand anguish accruing from the incessant and cruel "struggle for life".

My chief reason for illustrating the virtues and defects of the little-known Sakais is to present them more closely to the attention of England, that, by delivering them from the contempt and able trickery of other races, might easily lead them to civilization and at the same time form important and lucrative centres of agricultural product in the interior of the Peninsula.

It is without the slightest idea of boasting that I state I have always remained among the Sakais alone and unarmed, in my work as a colonist. In this way it was possible for me to overcome hostility and mistrust, winning confidence and affection from one of the most uncivilized of peoples. And the fact gives me the greatest satisfaction for it demonstrates in a modest, but not for that less eloquent manner, that armed expeditions however fine and imposing in appearance (according to taste) have not the practical or lasting value of peaceful, friendly overtures. Civilization which pretends to impose itself by violence, slaughter and sackage only sows hatred. The pretended saviours become oppressors, and having begun by force they are compelled to resort to force if they wish to keep the dominion which a ferment of hatred, little by little, is undermining.

Therefore no arms, no missions (tending to substitute one terror for another) but only patience and calmness are necessary for the conquest of those simple souls and to subsequently teach them, through example, to devote themselves to work. They must be made to feel that civilization is useful, the inspirer of good and not an insidious injurer.

What can savages think when they are subjected to depredation and bloodshed by those who, with these measures, have come to them to proclaim the principles of respect for other people's property and the inviolability of human life?

It is indeed a great pleasure to me finding that to-day the Sakais no longer distrust civilization and some of them, especially the younger ones, do not refuse or shrink from work as they once did and neither do they oppose such an obstinate resistance to those innovations which I too had a part in introducing among them.

I leave it to my readers to judge if I am guilty of vanity in thus expressing my contentment.

And now I have finished.



[Transcriber's Note: This errata prepared by the author/translator is included for historical and archival interest only. All the changes specified by this errata have already been implemented in the etext.]

ERRATA

Page 14 line 26 — qualities.

" 39 " 32 — wished.

" 50 " 16 — read debtors for creditors.

Chap. IV " 3 — twilight.

Page 61 " 3 — centuries.

" 80 " 14 — inefficacious.

" 84 " 19 — safeguard.

Chap. VIII " 7 — coronation.

Page 85 " 12 — gratify.

" 96 " 30 — previous.

" 107 " 12 — too.

" 111 " 13 — too.

" " " 17 — search.

" 112 " last line — enjoy.

" 124 " 1 — attained.

" 128 " last line — equal.

" 131 " 28 — for economic read financial.

" 133 " 29 — consequence.

" 134 " 13 — without.

" 139 " 2 — read same time.

" 141 " 2 — obliged.

" 146 " 16 — appetizing.

" 178 " footnote — chinneloy.

" 187 " 6 — falsehood.

" 193 " 1 — But it is.

" 207 " 32 — Sakai.



TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES

Every effort has been made to preserve the original text, including non-standard spelling and grammar as well as inconsistencies in the transliteration of non-English words (both in spelling and use of diacritics.) Non-standard spelling has been preserved if the word is understandable in context. Changes to the text have only been made in the case of obvious typographical errors and where not making a correction would leave the text confusing or difficult to read. All changes are documented in the notes below. The original text also included an errata page by the author/translator. The changes specified in this errata have been implemented and are also documented in the notes below.

Treatment of quotation marks. In the original text, the author/translator used a variant of a European convention in which quoted text began with double quotation marks and ended with double low-9 quotation marks (present in unicode as U+201E). For the convenience of users who may not be able to display unicode, the double low-9 quotation marks have been replaced by regular double quotation marks.

In the author/translator's original style of punctuation, full-stops were always placed outside of the closing quotation marks. Where quoted text ended with an exclamation or question mark, these would be placed inside the closing quotation mark and then a terminating full-stop would be added outside the quotation mark as in this example: "Sacramento!". This style of punctuation has been preserved.

Some blocks of quoted text were enclosed in double angle quotation marks (or guillemets). This style of punctuation has been preserved.

Inconsistencies in the hyphenation of words have been preserved. (blowpipe/s, blow-pipe/s; earrings, ear-rings; earthenware, earthen-ware; goodbye, good-bye; hairpins, hair-pins; midnight, mid-night; recalled, re-called; recommenced, re-commenced; reproduced, re-produced; woodcutter's, wood-cutter's)

Pg. 12, "meetins" changed to "meeting". (but once a meeting has)

Pg. 12, "sould" changed to "should". (why should we consider the fierceness)

Pg. 14, "qualilies" changed to "qualities". From author's original errata. (qualities of courage and energy)

Pg. 20, "philosphy" changed to "philosophy". (But my philosophy soon took the)

Pg. 20, "come" changed to "some". (a Pullman's car or some other vehicle)

Pg. 21, closing quote inserted to end at end of paragraph. (a continual increase of danger".)

Pg. 25, "conseguence" changed to "consequence". (in conseguence, the presence of)

Pg. 28, "stiffiness" changed to "stiffness". (Besides the stiffness of my joints)

Pg. 29, "as" changed to "us". (you insult us and call)

Pg. 35, "dutieu" changed to "duties". (all the various duties of)

Pg. 35, "kiching" changed to "kicking". (kicking and batting)

Pg. 35, "belongig" changed to "belonging". (of some land belonging to two)

Pg. 36, "te" changed to "to". (my desire to become better acquainted)

Pg. 36, "contry" changed to "country". (but in him his country lost)

Pg. 36, "recipt" changed to "receipt". (tight hold of the receipt)

Pg. 38, "indefaticable" changed to "indefatigable". (his indefatigable energy brings forth)

Pg. 39, duplicated "a" removed. (we threw a well-pounded leaf)

Pg. 39, "wishcd" changed to "wished". From author's original errata. (if I wished for fortune)

Pg. 47, "af" changed to "of". (in spite of its glass eyes)

Pg. 47, "conseguence" changed to "consequence". (The consequence was quite)

Pg. 50, "creditors" changed to "debtors". From author's original errata. (as his debtors could not pay)

Pg. 51, "equal" changed to "equal". (is quite equal to the task)

Pg. 59, Chapter VI summary, "Everlasting twlight" changed to "Everlasting twilight". From author's original errata.

Pg. 55, "sirene" changed to "sirens". (and its steam sirens?)

Pg. 55, "Telok Ansom". Author's original text retained, although he probably intended to refer to the town more commonly called "Telok Anson".

Pg. 55, "Sakay" occurs here and in a few other instances in the text. Elsewhere it is spelled "Sakai". The original spelling has been preserved in all instances.

Pg. 60, "incease" changed to "increase". (swarms of insects increase its agony by making)

Pg. 60, "miriads" changed to "myriads". (these myriads of plants)

Pg. 61, "centures" changed to "centuries". From author's original errata. (destined to brave centuries)

Footnote 5, "i" changed to "I". (I ate it with relish)

Pg. 71, "Proctectorate" changed to "Protectorate". (remote Eastern Protectorate)

Pg. 71, "Pymalion". Author's original text retained, although more commonly spelled "Pygmalion".

Pg. 76, "varities" changed to "varieties". (varieties of serpents, big and small)

Pg. 77, "smakes" changed to "snakes". (danger from snakes)

Pg. 80, "inefficatious" changed to "inefficacious". From author's original errata. (inefficacious when a man

Pg. 84, "safe-quard" changed to "safeguard". From author's original errata. (behaviour being his safeguard)

Pg. 85, Chapter VIII summary. "incoronation" changed to "coronation". From author's original errata. (coronation of King Edward VII)

Pg. 85, "gratisfy" changed to "gratify". (such as to gratify a little ambition)

Pg. 87, "responsable" changed to "responsible". (to establish the responsibility)

Pg. 93, quotation marks fixed. '"By thus living separate, "he said" each family....' changed to '"By this living separate," he said "each family....'.

Pg. 96, "aud" changed to "and". (produces and causes)

Pg. 96, "previons" changed to "previous". From author's original errata. (to my previous position)

Pg. 97, "angiush" changed to "anguish". (that awful anguish I had)

Pg. 107, "two" changed to "too". From author's original errata. (I, too, have often made)

Pg. 110, duplicated word "of" removed. (I speak only of the Sakais)

Pg. 110, "investicating" changed to "investigating". (feel of investigating our neighbour's past)

Pg. 111, "two" changed to "too". From author's original errata. (are too long in proportion)

Pg. 111, "scarch" changed to "search". From author's original errata. (the like in search)

Footnote 8, "eujoy" changed to "enjoy". (If to-day is ours to enjoy.)

Pg. 112, "conseguence" changed to "consequence". (in consequence of their long exposure) )

Pg. 117, extraneous comma in "etc., Rice" removed as it appears a new sentence is being started. (etc. Rice is an imported luxury)

Pg. 118, "elever" changed to "clever". (are very clever)

Pg. 120, "off" changed to "of" (or of ill-treating them in any way)

Pg. 121, "conseguence" changed to "consequence". (agree in consequence of the difference)

Pg. 122, "risult" changed to "result". (but the result of the circumstances)

Pg. 124, "altained" changed to "attained". From author's original errata. (attained or the future)

Pg. 126, caption of illustration following this page, "Bois practising shooting" changed to "Boys practising shooting".

Pg. 128, "egual" changed to "equal". From author's original errata. (all are equal)

Pg. 131, "economic" changed to "financial". From author's original errata. (financial conditions to permit the formation)

Pg. 133, "conseguence" changed to "consequence". From author's original errata. (The immediate consequence of)

Pg. 134, "withont" changed to "without". From author's original errata. (and without any hope of reward)

Pg. 139, "same" changed to "same time". From author's original errata. (has, at the same time, to)

Pg. 139, "civilizied" changed to "civilized". (with what civilized)

Pg. 141, "obbliged" changed to "obliged". From author's original errata. (I have been obliged)

Pg. 141, "boudaries" changed to "boundaries". (the boundaries of village)

Pg. 141, "settlments" changed to "settlements". (these settlements that I have)

Pg. 143, "to-morow" changed to "to-morrow". (to-morrow a common danger)

Pg. 143, "betwen" changed to "between" (which exists between)

Pg. 146, "appetising" changed to "appetizing". From author's original errata. (into appetizing capons)

Pg. 150, "inventary" changed to "inventory". (the inventory of their kitchen)

Pg. 153, "Notwithslanding" changed to "Notwithstanding". (Notwithstanding this sharpening)

Pg. 158, glossary entry under "Evil", "sonnd" changed to "sound". (alphabetical sound of e)

Pg. 161, "scems" changed to "seems". (that seems to be composed)

Pg. 162, "attemps" changed to "attempts". (renounces all attempts)

Pg. 171, "indipendence" changed to "independence". (their "spirit of independence")

Footnote 15, "chineloy" changed to "chinneloy". From author's original errata. (Pronounced chinneloy)

Pg. 180, "contorsion" changed to "contortion". (every jump and contortion)

Pg. 184, "de" changed to "do". (Sakais do not refuse)

Pg. 184, "reasou" changed to "reason". (reason the terrible beast)

Pg. 184, "Spirt" changed to "Spirit". (Evil Spirit who is continually)

Pg. 184, "wcked" changed to "wicked". (play his wicked tricks)

Pg. 184, "serinity" changed to "serenity". (the serenity of their simple minds)

Pg. 184, "frequenty" changed to "frequently". (hurricanes that frequently)

Pg. 185, "thay" changed to "they". (evil spirits that they believe)

Pg. 186, "esixtence" changed to "existence". (the existence of a Good Spirit)

Pg. 186, "os" changed to "as". (so much so as never)

Pg. 186, "II" changed to "It". (It must also be considered)

Pg. 187, "falshood" changed to "falsehood". From author's original errata. (tell you a falsehood)

Pg. 188, "siezed" changed to "seized". (seized with great terror)

Pg. 189, "imdetuous" presumed to be "impetuous". This text has several instances of inverted letters, as though the type-setter placed the type upside down. (The impetuous currents of air)

Pg. 189, "twoo" changed to "two". (two-fold office)

Pg. 189, "breaded" presumed to be "dreaded", which makes more sense in context (see the dreaded Being)

Pg. 189, "scceeds" changed to "succeeds". (and succeeds in over-ruling)

Pg. 189, "to" changed to "to". (in order to ascertain)

Pg. 189, "notwithstending" changed to "notwithstanding". (notwithstanding the cabalistic)

Pg. 189, "sesisting" changed to "resisting". (resisting and defeating him)

Pg. 189, "kflled" changed to "killed". has overcome and killed him)

Pg. 189, "upringht" changed to "upright". (in an upright position)

Pg. 190, "dayu" changed to "days". (For seven days continual)

Pg. 190, "provider" changed to "provided". (it is provided with)

Pg. 190, "fother's" changed to "father's". (his father's dignity)

Pg. 190, "keed" changed to "keep". (alone to keep watch)

Pg. 190, "ir" changed to "in". (incense-pan in which he burns)

Pg. 190, "spyng" changed to "spying". (of spying his actions)

Pg. 190, "ningt's" changed to "night's". (the night's proceedings)

Pg. 190, "alght" changed to "alight". (continues to keep alight)

Pg. 190, "slinghtest" changed to "slightest". (the slightest movement of fear)

Pg. 190, "sciene" changed to "science". (the occult science of his)

Pg. 191, "the had watchad". Either a word is missing after "the", or "the" was meant to be "he". Changed to "he had watched". (proof that he had watched that night)

Pg. 191, "suol" changed to "soul". (soul of the dead man)

Pg. 191, "pzwer" changed to "power". (power would be lost)

Pg. 191, "moltals" changed to "mortals". (poor mortals around)

Pg. 191, "efficatious" changed to "efficacious". (venomous virtue more efficacious)

Pg. 192, "throug" changed to "through". (opening left through the)

Pg. 192, "patien's budy" changed to "patient's body". (from the patient's body)

Pg. 192, "thereforo be heriocally" changed to "therefore be heroically". (must therefore be heroically fought)

Pg. 192, "villagn" changed to "village". (The village in which the)

Pg. 192, "forbibben" changed to "forbidden". (light is absolutely forbidden)

Pg. 193, "But is" changed to "But it is". From author's original errata. (But it is intended)

Pg. 193, "succomb" changed to "succumb". (if he does not succumb)

Pg. 193, "corpe" changed to "corpse". (leave the corpse)

Pg. 194, "aud" changed to "and". (performed and they regularly)

Pg. 199, "aed" changed to "and". (and makes abundant ablutions)

Pg. 199, "Sakia" changed to "Sakai". Sakai is presumed to be the word most likely intended. (death of a Sakai)

Pg. 199, "aven" changed to "even". (not require even the intervention)

Pg. 200, "bi" changed to "by". (by distraction of thought)

Pg. 200, "partticular" changed to "particular". (have no particular)

Pg. 200, single quote mark changed to comma. (cooking their food, preparing their poisons)

Pg. 200, "nigt" changed to "night". (warming them during the night)

Pg. 200, "mathes" changed to "matches". (I gave them matches)

Pg. 200, "Thek" changed to "They". (They may be briefly summed)

Pg. 200, "stil" changed to "still". (are still under the thick)

Pg. 200, "dobt" changed to "doubt". (bright light of a first doubt)

Pg. 200 "far" changed to "for", appears more appropriate in context. (creatures for whom the discouraging counsel)

Footnote 18, "studyng" changed to "studying". (without studying it)

Pg. 201, "pratice" changed to "practice". (the practice of morality)

Pg. 201, added full-stop at end of sentence (they do not understand or cannot.)

Pg. 202, Chapter XV summary. An entire line "The labar, lampat, mase and loo" appears to be missing as can be seen from the equivalent summary paragraph in the Table of Contents.

Pg. 202, Chapter XV summary. "Nai Bretaks" is given as "Mai Bretaks" in the table of contents. Original text preserved in both cases.

Pg. 207, "triomphantly" changed to "triumphantly". (victors carry it triumphantly)

Pg. 207, "sch" changed to "such". (There is such a rich)

Pg. 207, "areparation" changed to "preparation". (preparation of poisons)

Pg. 207, "famigliar" changed to "familiar" (most familiar are)

Pg. 207, "Jnst" changed to "Just". (Just as a gun)

Pg. 207, "Sakais doen" changed to "Sakai does". Includes author's original errata. (the Sakai does not waste)

Pg. 208, "frepuently" changed to "frequently". (the other is frequently)

Pg. 208, "properrties" changed to "properties". (contain miraculous properties)

Pg. 208, "soffee" changed to "coffee". (coffee, sugar, rice)

Pg. 209, "intollerably" changed to "intolerably". (that itch intolerably)

Pg. 211, "ealled" changed to "called". (climber called lemmak kapiting)

Pg. 214, "ander" changed to "under". (its nest under the leaves of)

Pg. 215, "of scudiscio" changed to "of scudiscio". Author's style was to italicise non-English words but there did not seem to be a reason to italicise the word "of" and this is possibly a typographical error. (with a band of scudiscio and)

Pg. 216, "Lucretuis" changed to "Lucretius". (the poem of Lucretius Carus!)

Pg. 221, "Kedak" probably refers to the place now more commonly spelled "Kedah", however the original text has been preserved. (Kedak and Kelantan)

Pg. 224, "propogation" changed to "propagation". (propagation of the malady)

Pg. 225, "seream" changed to "scream". (Hearing her scream the husband)

Pg. 228, "nowithstanding" changed to "notwithstanding". (notwithstanding all this)

Pg. "229" "to day" changed to "to-day" (that to-day the Sakais no longer)

THE END