The Somerset reporter., 1895-07-18

In the Far East.

idea that it Is somehow related to the
Malay Peninsula. The addresses on
some of our letters have been amusing in
deed and frequently delay mail, sending
it thousands of miles astray. For in
stance, one letter came addressed "Singa-
pore Straits Settlements. Malaysia China
while the larger part of our mail is direct
ed to "Straits Settlements, India, and the
result is that it goes to India, then comes
back to Us, delaying it about ten days.
Our correspondents will please take
notice that "Singapore, Straits Settle
mcnts" is our correct address.
Malaysia is perhaps the least known
part of the globe, for while scientific eX-
ploration has busted itself with Africa,
Asia. South America. and other parts OF
the world, scarcely any travellers visit
the Malay Archipelago, with its hun
dreds of islands aud wealth of discovery
Malaysia comprises the larger part OF
the Malay Peninsula, with the adjacent
islands of sumatra. Java, Celebes, Iabu-
an. New Guinea. and Borneo, together
with the thousands OF small islands in
this vicinity.
These islands comprise group, which
on the whole Is comparable with the
primary divisions of the globe, some OF
the larger islands, being many thousands
Of square miles in area. Three OF these
great island kingdoms are larger than
the whole of the British' Isles, and as
Mr.. Wallace has shown in his MALAY
Archipelago in very striking map,
these British Isles may be set down
bodily in Borne0. and would then be
completely surrounded by sea OF Tor
csts. Borneo is nearly the area OF our
own great state Texas, having over 26O,-
600 square miles of territory--Whlle
New Guinea, outranks Borneo, 1t is
thought. The archipelago extends over
1000 miles from East to West, and over
1900 miles from North to South. 1t
would stretch over an expanse equal 10
that of all Europe, from the extreme
West, far into Central Asia, or would
cover the widest parts of the American
continents reaching far out into the
Atlantic and Pacific oceans. on either
side.
Situated as it is upon the Equator,
and bathed by the tepid waters of the
great tropical seas, Malaysia enjoys a
climate more uniformly hot and moist,
than any other part of the world, and
teens with natural productions, else
where unknown. Some of the islands
and part of the peninsula are very rlch
in mineral productions. such as tin, iron,
silver and gold, while the vegetable pro-
ducts are varied and numerous.
Malaysia is densely populated, having
at the preseht time. something like Co.,
600. 900 inhabitants or about the popula-
ton of the l.. 5. The inhabitants may
be divided into two classes, the Malays
and Papuans, though these two classes
are subdivided into numerous other
tribes for convenience sake.
The real Malay or Orang Laut oman OF
the sea } originally occupied the power
full state Menang karboo, on the west
coast of Sumatra, from whence ne
spread to the peninsula, and adjacent
islands. The original inhabitants were
called 'Orang Benna' or lmen of the
land these are divided into three
powerful tribes, the Jakum, Sakeis
and Semangs; simple wild and as yet
largely untouched by the vices OF civil
ization, they fearlessly roam the dense
iungles and plains, armed with primitive
bow, spear, or blow-pipe, the latter OF
which is so effective, with its tiny en-
venomed shaft, that nothing can resist
it. His food is varied, everything WIN
life is a welcome additions to his larder,
MONKEYS. birds, beetles, snakes, ana
even the parasites that infect his own
BODY being considered as delicacles.
The Battacks of Sumatra, the Dyaks, or
head hunters of Borneo, and various
wild and aboriginal tribes inhabiting the
other islands go to make up the millions
of ignorant and unciviized people who
remain today without knowledge OF
God, waiting the advent of teachers and
preachers who shall tell them about
Jesus, and do for them v hat Christianity
has already done for Fiji and many OF
the Polynesian islands.
Mohammedanism prevails to large
extent among the Malays and they are
possessed of the most pernicious habits
being adopts in the arts of cheating
lying, stealing, RIGHTEOUSNESS and every
thing bad. Islam acts like blight upon
these people, and it is easier far to con
vert a head hunting Dyak or Suma-
tran Battak, than a bigoted Mohamme-
dan who prides himself on being on be-
ing one of Gods elect yet regards with
scorn anything approaching honesty and
cleanness of life.
Singapore has been called, "the eye OF
the East" situated as she is at the turn
ing of the ocean highway, where the
commerce of the world, on its way from
East TO West, or vice versa pauses to
take breath for its long journey, it is an
important place. Here is the meeting
place of the Asiatie nations. Chinaman
jostles Hindoo, Jayanese, Singhalese,
Americans, Englishmen, Frenchman,
Germans, Russians, and the representa-
tives from score of other nations East
and West, may be found here, some per
located, other transient each
bearing his national characteristics.
The Englishman, purse-proud, over
bearing, naughty, browbeating the
natives mereilessly, the American, indie
pendent, cheeky, careless, pushing, Curl
Gus; the Frenchman, vivacous polite,
gesticulating and nervous; the German
and Russian, stolid, phlegmatic, cool and
calculating; the Chinaman, meek, indus
trious, deceptive, thrifty withal, whether
as cody, or trader, boatman or mer
chant, he makes and saves money; while
the natives, cringing and obsequious,
lying and treacherous will cheat your
eye teeth out if you are not careful.
They have no compunctions and will
charge YOU ten times the proper price if
they think you are green, and if you
know the proper price, will come down
without blush.
The Chinese make good house SER
a -,