The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-01
"MALAYs" AT CAPE TOWN.
Mnhometnn Descendants of the
slaves of the Dutchmen.

From the London Mall
The descendants OF the slaves of the
Dutchmen of two hundred years ago. VINO
were brought TO Cape Town from the
Dutch East Indies, form to-day very
appreciate portion OF the population Of
Capt Town, and have spread thence 10 all
the more important towns of South
Africa.
They are known as Malays. and wher-
ever they go, whatever they do. they are
acknowledged to be a thrifty, peaceful in
teligent sober and highly loyal race
Malays are all Mahometaus. They have
their own "Hadjies' or priests. and con-
form to certain religious customs of their
own, which mark them out distinctly from
worshippers of any other religion.
One of the first things that strike the
newcomer in Cape Town is the unique and
curious costume of the Malay women
They are very slightly brown in color
hardly darker than an average Italian
They always have the most beautiful
liquid, pleading almond eyes with deep
brown pupils and exqusitely drawn la shes.
They wear a fully starched print dress
sticking out all around on a sort of crino-
line foundation. which makes them yards
In circumference. Across the body Is a
brilliant colored handkerchief, and an
equally brightly hued one covers the head
and is crossed beneath the chin.
ON the feet are wooden clogs, or pat
tens with a knob that fixes itself be-
tween the great toe and the next When
a Malay walks across Longmarket or
Berg street. with IT'S cobblestones, her
feet go clppity clop, like the sound of a
French peasants sabots.
The Malay men are nearly all cab driv-
ers, fishermen. or plasterers. They earn
good wages, and usually only work about
four days week During the other three
days they make holiday, and go pienlck-
Ing In bucolic, Utopian sort of way out
to kalk Bay, Wynberg or Constantia.
The men all seem to dress alike-neat
serge suits the invarable red fez, and
patent shoes-for they are inordinately
proud of their small feet. If the Malay
in question be a coachman-and they are
expert in looking after the horses. fat
tening them with sugar, which makes
them sleek-then he often wears over the
fez a curious big straw hat. with a huge
brim and a steeple crown, which is as
IL where, the badge Of his profession.
The Malays have their own mosque in
Cape Town. II Is situated in Long street.
near Greenmarket square, and is discern
able long way off by reason of It's nina
rets and cupola. Here the "hadjie" calls
the faithful 10 "muezzin" every night. and
prays with his face toward Mecca.
The Malay women are nearly all twash-
erwomen, and, in fact, they have practi-
cally monopoly of the laundry profess
ION IlTOuSnOuN OOuiH Africa. lne1f me-
thods are primitive in the extreme and
their charges are very high. They just
beat the cloths on fiat stones in a running
stream, with an added mcdcum of soft
soap The result is disastrous to any
fine linen; but the Malay washerwoman is
an extraordinary Independent sort of PER-
son. and II you grumble she just tells you
to get your washing done better This
she knows TO be impossible 50 you have
perforce TO submit 10 ruined linen and ex-
tortionate charges.
Periodically a contingent of MalayS
charter ship wherewith TO proceed from
Cape Town TO Beyrout, in order to make
their devotional pilgrimage to Mecca. All
of them do IL once in their lives.
IL is curiously suggesrively Eastern
TO be told by ones washerwoman one
morning that she has transferred her
business temporarily 10 some one else
while she goes to Mecca. as every good
Mahometan should and does. The pilgrim
age takes about two years and costs a
deal OF money but the Malays are thrifty
and sober people and form a very impor-
tant factor in the population of Cape
Colony.
They are immensely loyal to the Queen,
and celebrate her birthday with great re-
joicings. Great Britain has no more faith
full adherents and upholders than the Nd
lays of South Africa.