The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-20

According 10 BROOKE, inc DyakS oil BOrDtO ara
more imprcssionnblc than peasants in England.
and much softer and moro genial In spesth and
manner. The Javanesc arc mild and docile,
and although restrained in social inter-
course by the necessity of using differ
ent dialects in addressing different orders
Of society they display much checrfunoss
and good humor. OF the Mnlays in general it
may be said. although evidence is conflicting,
that the fcrociOus and bloodthirsty .narartcr
commonly imputed to the race must lc sly
exaggerated. A. Il. Wallace says tho Malay is
honest II trusted with property. and that he is
cautious OF giving offence He docs not quarrel
easily about money matters. dislikcs asking too
frequently for payment OF his just debts. and
will often givo them up altogether rather than.
Quarrel with his debtor. The Maiays habtual
poitencss may be duo to the fact that he is al.
ways prepared to avenge with hs kris tho
slightest insult on the spot We may no's here
that the fact Of Malays showing more resent
mcnt at insult than at injury ia commonly ro-
gardcd "a attestlng considerable ndvnnce in
civilization But II is pointed ont bv m'utc OBJ
servers that the trait indicates rather the pro
dominance NJ the emotional over thb fntellec-
tual nature since the scope and bonrng Of
injuries are subjects Of calculation and injuries
would naturally prove most cxCspcrstng to
those most able to forecast their results.
We come now 10 tho differences remarked in
the intellectual character " the mors primitive
existing types OF man. And first as 70 the quail
ity which lies ut tho root of mental progress
curiosity. The Fuegians manifest, W. are in
formed the utmost indifference when. brought
in contact with Europeans. 4 few who had
been on board n vessel for some hours on re-
turning TO the shore showed no eaeerncss to
relate. nor. on the other hand. would their com
nonfnna avince any deatrp n hoor xybnt tL,,,
had scon. or the Veddahs il Is recorded that
their features in reposc wear u,cant and
melancholy expression. and when questions are
put they exhibit the perplexity common in peo-
pie Of weak intellect According to Prldham. two
village Veddahs showed no surprise alta look
ing glass nor any Of tho monkeys inqJisitiv e-
ness TO sec what was at the back So-too the
Australians whom Cook saw manifested great
want Of curiosity. and the same impassivty has
been repeatedly noticed by Subsequent travel
lers. The now extinct TasmananS when first
encountered by Europeans expressed no sur
prise at seeing men so much unlike themselves
and things to which they had been strangers.
Their Indifference TO presents and general in
attention we're very properly regarded by Cook
proofs u deficient understanding. On the
other hand the Andamanese from the first wero
observed 10 show great deal Of curiosity. and
rs might have been expected. TINY have boen
found TO bc m improbable people. Az for the
natives Of New Caledonia and Now Guinea. they
are remarkably inquistivc. one OF the leading
characteristics OF Papuans consisting in their
ardent desire TO obtain the manufactures O;
foreign countries. So much for the develop
ment OF curiosity among the Negrtto and cher
primitive races. We need not say that this
mental alertness and tho auickness oi porcer-
ton which usually accompanies II are we'll nigh
NJ nil
five turn 10 the faculty OF memory. We shall
be struck by its tenacity. even among tho rudcst
branches OF tho human family. owing. doubt
less. TO the constant exercise required by tho
absence of artificial records Thus. even Fuc-
Gian. sent home after n brief soiourn In Eng
land. and not again heard of for twenty years,
still showed that he had not forgotten tho Eng
fish words previously lcnrnod. or tho b.ras and
manners OF civilized life. On the other hand
Australians who in youth had been taught To
read and write. are found. aiter some years
passed in the wild state. To- havo lost their nc
auircments. But in this case the loss Of NOM
Org may DO connected with the general fn,i
| that after twenty the mental Nigor oi
| the native Australian seems to de-
cline. and Mt the age OF forty it seems
nearly extinct. instinct alone remaining. The
retentive memory Of tho Tasmnninn lhoricin IS
was demonstrated 10y their remarkably minute
! and accurate geographical kno Slcdge. Another
proof OF lively memory is tho cXacness with
/ which acts or things previously seen are rc-
produced. Even the Fuegians. who. Gext 10 tho
Ncddahs. seem TO occupy the lowest level OF
! humanity. are excellent mimi,s and accordinG
10 Wedde!l whenever we COACHED or yawned
or made any odd motion they Immediately imi
tated US" They can repeat. II secms with per
feet correctness. each word in any sentence
addressed to them. copying. also. tho information
and expression Of tho fW'c.
Among tho Malayo-Polynesian races w,
should expect 70 find moro n,rnerous an,
striking evidences of mental advance. r.
begin with tho most primitive We are told tina
the Dynks Of Bornco are quick in CON prchcn
sion and in all ways very imprOvaolc.
seems that when tho days work is done tn,
Dyaks will spend most Of tho night rouud ihr
fires talking over tho prospscis OF the crops an,
politics. They are wont to say Of their Mala,
ncighbors. These Malays are stupid fellows
with all their knowledge. br after a day = wai
each goes to his mistress and sleep
the whole night through. instead of sit
ting with tho old men and discussing In
affairs Of the country" Travellers in Madaaqls
ear report tho Malagasy 10 be- discerning an,
shrcwd. and Of the Jpras the bost known of th
fair race. we are told that while often prohx il
introducing a thought they are distinct an,
pointed in exhibiting the thought itself. Tn
New Icalandcrs show great aptitude for learn
ing 10 read and write. and arv so far from bcini
deficient in habits OF continuous attention tina
it is said New Zealand women will devote tw
years to tho fabrication OF their finest garments
When first discovered, tho New Zealand
era had attained considerable skill II
the fortifyng Of their pals. and hay
since made very rapid progress in In
science Of European fertilization. The sam
quickness in learning and surprising pcrse
yeranco have been observed elsewhere in Poly
ncsia. ms FOR instance in the Sandwich and So
cietv Islands. Something like genuine orator
seems to be- cultivated among the Tongan.
who are surpassed. howovcr. in this respec
by the Samoans. trained to public speakn
by their republican institutions. Passing
SumAtra we again find the gift Of orntory ne
uncommon. the form of government prcvailin
in many parts Of tho country Admitting in SON
degree every member OF tho community to th
} public deliberations. Among ono tribe. in
Battas, it appears that a large majority Of iii
people are able 10 rcnd anu write.