ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . 299
They are much addicted to gaming, and the practice is under no Addi&ed t»
kind of reftraint, until it deftroys itfelf, by the ruin of one of the par- 8 ami "S>
ties. When a man lofes more money than he is able to pay, he is confined,
and fold as a flave; which is almoft the only mode by which they
become fuch. A generous winner will fometimes let his unfortunate adverfary
off, upon condition of his killing a horfe, and making a public
entertainment.
A favorite diverfion with thefe people is horfe-racing. They ufe no Horfe racing,
faddle; the bit of the bridle is of iron, and has feveral joints; the
headftall and reins, of rattan : in other parts the reins are of ejoo, and
the bit, of wood. They are faid likewife to hunt the deer on horfeback.
They have, as was obferved in another place, a language and written
character peculiar to themfelves; and the Malay has there made lefs Lan £ ua S e '
progrefs than in any part of the ifland. It is remarkable, that the proportion
of the people who know how to read and write, is much greater
than of thofewho do not; an advantage feldom obferved in fuch uncivilized
parts of the world, and not always found in the more poliihed.*
Their crimes againft the order of fociety, are not numerous. Theft
is almoft unknown among them; being ftrictly honed in their dealings
with each other. Pilfering, indeed, from ftrangersj when not reftrained
by the laws of hofpitality;-j~ they are tolerably expert in, and think no
* For fpecimens of their language, and writing chara&cr, fee page 16S.
f Mr. Miller gives the following inftances of their hofpitality in the reception of ftrangers.
" The raja of Terimbaroo, being informed of our intentions to come there, fent his fon and be­
tween thirty and forty men, armed with lances and matchlock guns, to meet us; who efcorted us
to their campong, beating gongs, and firing their guns all the way. The raja received 'us in
great form, and with civility ordered a buffaloe to be killed, and detained us a day. When we,
proceeded on our journey, he fent his fon and a number of armed people with us for our guard.
Having made the accuftomed prefents, we left Terimbaroo, and proceeded to Samaffam ; the raja
of which place, attended by fixty or feventy men well armed, foon met us, and efcorted us to
his campong, where he had prepared a houfe for our reception, and treated us with great hofpi­
tality and lefpeóV'
4 Gr moral
Crimes,