American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1826-07-18

tupuese, under Albuquerque, are the subject of a
Malay epic, called i" Hikarat Malacca." The Ma
laws belonged to the Brahmanica Institution, pre-.
vious to their conversion to Soon Mohammedanlsm
by the Arabians. They had, at that time, raIah
called sultan the datoos, or mobiles, are under
him, and these n their turn, have authority over
their vassals. The Malsys are addicted TO gaming,
and cock fighting, which they carry to fatal ex-
cess sacrificing not only the last morsel OF food,
and the las, remnant OF covering, which their fam-
lies POSSE ss but lle with all ITS relinue OF
hopes and enjoyments, to this baleiul passion.
When the last stake is lost the wrctched victim
intoxcstes himself with bang, or hemp leaf. uniles
his long black hair, draws his deadly creese, or
knife, and calling amok, or KLINE, (hence the term.
running muck, aims destruction at every one he
meets, until he is himself killed. while inActing
wounds on ohers.-The character Of this people
combines activity, restlessness courage, treachery,
ferocty and revenge. Private assassination is re
sorted TO, to avenge slight insults and 1t you
punish Malay he will seek every opportunity to
murder you in return.
Sumatra is an island possessing fine atmosphere,
and abundant natural productions. From Novem-
Der to March is called the rainy season the resi-
due of the year is dry, and no tcmpests occur.
Gold occupies the rivers, and copper, iron, tin,
phur, and coal, possess the womb OF the earth.
The cultivation Of the soil is carried to such per
lection, that in rice, the staple OF the island, 40
told has obtained he plants, shrubs, fruits,
SC peculiar TO the oriental world, flourish here IN
perfection, IN all their variety OF beauty and flavor.
The poisonous upas of Java is 10 be found here,
he deelerIous fleets of which have often excited
the wonder and terror OF our childhood 1t is
scarcely necessary TO say that these terrible &C
counts arc entirely fabulous, although the wood
ITSELF is deadly poison. The camphor 'ree OF
Sumatra has become very scarce, and 1t is said that
800 trees may be down before any OF this valu
able drug can be found Elephants. tigers, bears,
sc. nhabit the forests alligators are to be founc !
aud fish, birds. and insects, in every variety Here
is also the white ant that worse than locuat plague
OF the east, whose depredaons are carried on with
such wonderful System and efficiency. ln some
parts Of India, these insects form their settlements,
or cities 10 the form Of huge cones, with tutrets
md watch towers. They make regular Streets
nurseries, stores habitatIons; work in divisions,
under seeming government, aud adopt every pre-
caution for security and order. which the wisdom o
intellectual beings could suggest. They can under
mine houses, d stroy the supports and the wood
work, make their way through the floors, consume
clothes, furniture, books, and all articles which are
not made Of steel metal. They have been
known to destroy whole casks Of Madeira by eat
ing The barrels In which it was contained. These
insects OF various sizes from that oil grain oil
rice, to The b;eness of wasp. and the houses and
floors in loda are frequently washed with solution
of COW dung, 70 check their app oaches The
croaking frog aud hre-f fly are to be found in this
island. The rocks yield The Chinese dalnties,
which are held in such high reputation; and spices
abound. The governments in Sumatra are feudal
and patriarchal mixtures and long established Gus
toms become laws. A whole family is responsible
| Tor the debt Of member property is divided equal
ly among children; money is compensation for
every description Of crime and oalhs sworn on
instruments OF destruction, among the graves Ut
their ancestors. Slavery and polygamy are allow
ed. The color oil the natives is yellow, with the
nose and made fat and TO stand at rghl angles
with the head. The beard is pucked out, and the
teeth are filed down even with the gums and some
tin,cs left in points like saw and blaC keDed with
empy reumanc oil. / he higher ranks case the
teeth with gold, which, by candle light, makes them
glitter with splendor. They follow the Indian
costume. Their houses are built on piles AID are
ascended by ladder, which is drawn up after them
as security. They smoke opium to excess, live
on the most simple diet, principally vegetable, and
buy and sell heir wives at pleasure treating them
as mere slaves. Those OF the natives who live
, along The coast are Mohammedans, and OF Malay
s. origin; but the rest OF the Sumatrans are ehe
savage, wild idoators Tie Buta tribe are
said To eat their enemies, to show their hatred ans
heir old parents TO show their affection Tit
I mansrovc covers the marshy ground OF the sou,l
! OF this island 1t is 10 or 70 feet high, divided init
< innumerable branches, and thieky covered will
r leaves, From the trunk aud lower branches Shoots
grow out, which descend to the ground, and tax,
" root. and thus become interlaced, as to form
" thick grove. AS it stands the and it
IS branches dip, they are frequently covered with oys
g tiers and shell fish, the appearance of which ono
l. gave rise to the story that there oyster trees
:, The British settlement in Bencoolen is deende,
y BY fort, and where the East India Company ha
E. property to the value Of 100000 pounds. Til
IS Sumatrans near the place polite, and it is
punctilio amongst them never to pronounce the
r. own name, which frequently causes much embal
S. rassment to strangers Some OF the women ar
T.; "