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Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

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^<br />

CHAP. XI SAVAGE MALAYS OF MALACCA 541<br />

spoils which <strong>the</strong>y seemed to prize most were two owls<br />

and a colony <strong>of</strong> bats. The latter <strong>the</strong>y seized upon<br />

with great glee, carried at once to <strong>the</strong>ir house, broiled<br />

slightly, and devoured. Nothing being now left in<br />

<strong>the</strong> compound, Logan took <strong>the</strong>m next evening along<br />

<strong>the</strong> Garden Road, but <strong>the</strong>y did not succeed in getting<br />

any birds, and this made <strong>the</strong>m think Singapore a poor<br />

country. Some clumps <strong>of</strong> jungle on <strong>the</strong> hills beyond<br />

Mr. Caldwell's villa redeemed it a little in <strong>the</strong>ir eyes,<br />

and <strong>the</strong>y were anxious to reach <strong>the</strong>m, but disliked<br />

having to cross <strong>the</strong> swamps. Logan <strong>of</strong>fered to give<br />

<strong>the</strong>m a small plantation if <strong>the</strong>y would remain in Singa-<br />

pore, pointing to <strong>the</strong> sugar-canes and fine fruit-trees<br />

in <strong>the</strong> Chinese plantations on <strong>the</strong> side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> road.<br />

They said <strong>the</strong>y could not live where <strong>the</strong>re was so<br />

little forest, and as for plantations <strong>the</strong>y could make<br />

clearings <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir own in Malacca, They pointed to<br />

Said Omar's and Mr. Dyce's hill, and asked what was<br />

<strong>the</strong> value <strong>of</strong> such a house with <strong>the</strong> hill and trees<br />

around it. When told that it might sell for 3000<br />

dollars, <strong>the</strong>y expressed <strong>the</strong> liveliest astonishment.<br />

Shortly afterwards, when Pawang was describing <strong>the</strong><br />

mountains <strong>of</strong> his country, he was asked for what price<br />

<strong>the</strong> Mantra would sell Gunong Berembun. He hesitated,<br />

looked at Mr. Dyce's hill, and at last said, " Ten<br />

godowns," i.e. store-houses (" sa-puloh gedong ").<br />

Of all <strong>the</strong> sights that <strong>the</strong>y saw in Singapore, <strong>the</strong><br />

Chinese Temple pleased <strong>the</strong>m most. Hut after having<br />

visited <strong>the</strong> town, Telok Blanga, Scglap. and some<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> island, <strong>the</strong>y declared that Malacca<br />

was a much finer place.<br />

The three men dift'ered considerably in disposition.<br />

The most remarkable was Pawang. who displayed<br />

' /. /. ,-/. vol. i. pp. 332*, 333*.

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