The Golden Chersonese and the Way Thither

The Aurea Chersonesus--The Conquest of Malacca--The Straits Settlements--The Configuration of the Peninsula--A Terra Incognita-- The Monsoons--Products of the Peninsula--The Great Vampire--Beasts and Reptiles--Malignant and Harmless Insects--Land and Water Birds-- Traditions of Malay Immigration--Wild and Civilized Races--Kafirs-- The Samangs and Orang-outang--Characteristics of the Jakuns-- Babas and Sinkehs--The Malay Physiognomy--Language andLiterature-- Malay Poetry and Music--Malay Astronomy--Education and Law--Malay Sports--Domestic Habits--Weapons--Slavery and Debt Bondage-- Government--"No Information" Canton and Saigon, and whatever else is comprised in the second half of my title, are on one of the best beaten tracks of travelers, and need no introductory remarks.But the Golden Chersonese is still somewhat of a terra incognita; there is no point on its mainland at which European steamers call, and the usual conception of it is as a vast and malarious equatorial jungle, sparsely peopled by a race of semi-civilized and treacherous Mohammedans. In fact, it is as little known to most people as it was to myself before I visited it; and as reliable information concerning it exists mainly in valuable volumes now out of print, or scattered through blue books and the Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Singapore, I make no apology for prefacing my letters from the Malay Peninsula with as many brief preliminary statements as shall serve to make them intelligible, requesting those of my readers who are familiar with the subject to skip this chapter altogether.