Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-12-30
FROM THE ASIAN SEA.
PEcULIARITIes OF THE MALAYS WHO
LIVE IN NEW YORK.

of Turtle Fishting-GambIIng-M
mony-BoardIng House-Bsiigion.
/ So far as the western world is concerned
/ the Malay il sea nomad Those who have
settled in New York came there as seamen,
who intended to return by the same ship, but
who by accident or other cause were obliged
to remain until they were more or less ut
tached to their new home. In the years they
have grown by accretion until they form o
legitimate colony similar to those Of the
| Chinese the Italians and the Polacks
This colony rises and falls in number
according 20 the nationality Of foreign
800, and sometimes rises as high as l 800
The Malay, contrary TO popular belief, is not
pure blooded race, so far as the New York
| representatives arc COncerne ii. A leading
man in the Sixth ward, Nix de Ia Cruz, has
the buils Of a FalstafF, a round, full face,
more like n Germans than Of anv other nation
Atty. a warm sepia comp EXON, long blue
black hair that breaks III heavy curls upon
his shoulders, and the physiognomy Of an ideal
IphilanthropSt. Min Goe, who is equally popu-
lar in Oriental councils, and who runs a queer
gambling house in Mott street. Is thin, wiry
fierce featured s:raish haired, yellow skinned
and cat like in ways and actions. Malaba, a
third, is almost Europsan in his physiognomy,
but as dark as a Louisiana negro in hair and
skin. These differences are, perhaps, attrib-
1tahls 10 the fact the { most Of those in the
metropolis come from Manila and other
Malay seaports, whore from time immemorial
there has been a constant miscegenation OF
sill the Oriental races.
GREG GARIOUsNEsS-ANUsEM
Like all the eastern people, they ars habit
mated to the practices made needful by =
tense population. No matter where they are
they crowd together. 1t is not uncommon
for fifteen or twenty 10 sleep together in a
room of 12 by 20 dimensions. In converse
ton they squat or stand together Ill almost
all engaged are in personal contact When
they visit liquor saloon or one of the dance
coils so common in the lower wards, they go
In knots OF Ave or more. The gregariousneSs
extends to almost all the relations of life, and
IN some Malaysian communities enters the
marital relation, producing that singular Gus
tom, polyandry.
Their amusements are few and simple. Tho
most remarkable of these is turtle fighting
Two swapping turtles are carefully selected
| and trained. The best for sporting purposes
are those that weigh from fifteen TO twenty
pounds apiece. Lighter ones ara immature
and not 50 muscular Heavier ones are logy,
| slow and less vindictive The training con-
sists in teasing them three times day with a
bamboo rod and allowing them to hang from
this by the hour after they once take hold.
/ The only diet is raw meat and red pepper
even water being tabooed. The day before
the fight the teeth ard jaws are examined
oyerhauled, filed and scrsped till they re-
sembls knife edges
The tigh: is conducted in a small ring not
more than a yard in diameter. The snappers
are produced and washed and each tasted by
the seconds of the other. This is done to pre-
vent cowitch or poisonous drugs being placed
upon the salient points whence ii may enter
the mouth. nose and eyes of the opposite an
tagonist. They are then irritated in the usual
Ttyle with a sharp rod until nearly frenZied,
and then placed In the center Of the ring
There Is neither wait nor running away
Each snaps at the other simultaneously. The
best hold is an oblique hold. This enables the
one that catches 10 reach the carotid artery
and the windpipe without being compelled 70
bite through the massive cartilaGes of the
neck. Next 10 this is n straight neck hold, in
which the two jaws strike against the top aud
bottom of the neck Below this again is the
cross hold, in which tue jaws strike against
| the two sides OF the neck Poorest Of all is
the leg hold. This is regarded by all Oriental
sports as the acme of unintelligence, because
Il both the snappers take leg holds the fight is
Iengthened out interminably. The combat Is
70 the death-one Of the turtles always being
killed and frequently both.
| GAABLISG-NARRIAGE-
The Malays, like the Chinese are great
gamblers Their favorite games for which
We have no name in English, suggest and a
few resemble) faro, lottery, roulette odd and
even. dominoes and dice. Many Of them
have learned the American national game
| and draw and bluff with the sang froid Of a
| Morrissey or a Ransom In the home life
| they have made in the new world the Malays
ara industrious, affectionate and domestic.
When they marry they pick out il possible
German woman. next to her a daughter of
Erin, then a lady of color and last of all an
American Why they prefer this order has
never been ascertsined. Nix de la Cruz
Is married to a German widow. who
speaks but little English and he speaks even
less German. When asked why he married
her he said: German women are not
pretty, bu: they never get drunk: they don't
fight; they work hard; they're good house
keepers. and they have lots of children"
When married they herd together the same
as when single. A typical boarding house in
Baxter Street Bend is a compartment on
the ground floor. about fourteen feet wide by
seventy long, broken up by partitions into
six rooms or these the front room is
the Office and store. The next, compart-
ment fourteen by twenty feet, is the living
and sleeping place Of the boarders who vary
from one 20 twenty in number In the third
sleep Nix, his wife and smaller children, In
the fourth his larger children. The fifth is
dining room and kitchen combined The
sixth and last is the store room. Such a
place costs from sS5 to go month rent and
nets its proprietor about 5000 per annum
The Malays have been taught so many re-
ligions that they may be truthfully said TO
have none Missionaries and zealots from
the Buddhist. Mohammedan, Roman Catho-
lie and Confucian faiths are found in every
town and hamlet of Malaysia They out
number Protestant missionaries ten TO one.
Unlike the latter, they adapt themselves to
their surroundings and become integral units
Of the community. They teach persistently.
As result the Malay faith as seen in New
York is a vague mixture of all the religions
named New York Cor. Cleveland Leader.
The Sailing Vessels Must Go.
at has been prosperous year on the
lakes" said the captain of a propeller;
but say. let me tell you something; do
you know in five years from now there
won't be sailing vessel on the lake,
I
way is n steamship preferable, Iinquired'
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