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list is long enough） there are many small beasts。
The reptiles are unhappily very numerous。 Crawfurd mentions forty
species of snakes； including the python and the cobra。 Alligators in
great numbers infest the tidal waters of the rivers。 Iguanas and
lizards of several species； marsh…frogs； and green tree…frogs abound。
The land…leeches are a great pest。 Scorpions and centipedes are
abundant。 There are many varieties of ants； among them a formidable…
looking black creature nearly two inches long； a large red ant； whose
bite is like a bad pinch from forceps； and which is the chief source of
formic acid； and the termes； or white ant； most destructive to timber。
The carpenter beetle is also found； an industrious insect； which
riddles the timber of any building in which he effects a lodgment； and
is as destructive as dry rot。 There are bees and wasps； and hornets of
large size； and a much…dreaded insect； possibly not yet classified；
said to be peculiar to the Peninsula； which inflicts so severe a wound
as to make a strong man utter a cry of agony。 But of all the pests the
mosquitoes are the worst。 A resident may spend some time in the country
and know nothing from experience of scorpions； centipedes；
land…leeches； and soldier ants； but he cannot escape from the mosquito；
the curse of these well…watered tropic regions。 In addition to the
night mosquito； there is a striped variety of large size； known as the
〃tiger mosquito；〃 much to be feared； for it pursues its bloodthirsty
work in the daytime。
Among the harmless insects may be mentioned the cicada； which fills the
forest with its cheery din； the green grasshopper； spiders； and flies
of several species； dragon…flies of large size and brilliant coloring；
and butterflies and moths of surpassing beauty； which delight in the
hot； moist； jungle openings； and even surpass the flowers in the glory
and variety of their hues。 Among them the atlas moth is found；
measuring from eight to ten inches across its wings。 The leaf insects
are also fascinating； and the fire…flies in a mangrove swamp on a
dark； still night； moving in gentle undulations； or flashing into
coruscations after brief intervals of quiescence； are inconceivably
beautiful。
The birds of the Peninsula are many and beautiful。 Sun…birds rival the
flashing colors of the humming…birds in the jungle openings；
king…fishers of large size and brilliant blue plumage make the river
banks gay； shrieking paroquets with coral…colored beaks and tender
green feathers； abound in the forests； great； heavy…billed hornbills
hop cumbrously from branch to branch； rivaling in their awkward gait
the rhinoceros hornbills； the Javanese peacock； with its gorgeous tail
and neck covered with iridescent green feathers instead of blue ones；
moves majestically along the jungle tracks； together with the ocellated
pheasant； the handsome and high…couraged jungle cock； and the glorious
Argus pheasant； a bird of twilight and night； with 〃a hundred eyes〃 on
each feather of its stately tail。
According to Mr。 Newbold； two birds of paradise （Paradisea regia and
Paradisea gularis） are natives of the Peninsula；* and among other
bright…winged creatures are the glorious crimson…feathered pergam； the
penciled pheasant； the peacock pheasant； the blue pheasant partridge；
the mina； and the dial bird； with an endless variety of parrots；
lories； green…feathered pigeons of various sizes； and wood…peckers。
Besides these there are falcons； owls； or 〃spectre birds；〃 sweet…voiced
butcher birds； storks； fly…catchers； and doves； and the swallow which
builds the gelatinous edible nest； which is the foundation of the
expensive luxury 〃Bird's Nest Soup；〃 frequents the verdant islands on
the coast。
＇*Mr。 Newbold is ordinarily so careful and accurate that it is almost
presumptuous to hint that in this particular case he may not have been
able to verify the statements of the natives by actual observation。＇
Nor are our own water birds wanting。 There are bitterns； rails；
wild…duck； teal； snipes； the common； gray； and whistling plover； green；
black； and red quails； and the sport on the plains and reedy marshes；
and along the banks of rivers； is most excellent。
Turtles abound off the coast； and tortoises； one variety with a hard
shell； and the other with a soft one and a rapid movement； are found in
swampy places。 The river fish are neither abundant nor much esteemed；
but the sea furnishes much of the food of both Malays and Chinese； and
the dried and salted fish prepared on the coast is considered very
good。
At European tables in the settlements the red mullet； a highly prized
fish； the pomfret； considered more delicious than the turbot； and the
tungeree； with cray…fish； crabs； prawns； and shrimps； are usually seen。
The tongue…fish； something like a sole； the gray mullet； the
hammer…headed shark； and various fish； with vivid scarlet and yellow
stripes alternating with black； are eaten； along with cockles； 〃razor
shells；〃 and king…crabs。 The lover of fishy beauty is abundantly
gratified by the multitudes of fish of brilliant colors； together with
large medusae； which dart or glide through the sunlit waters among the
coral…groves； where every coral spray is gemmed with zoophytes； whose
rainbow…tinted arms sway with the undulations of the water； and where
sea…snakes writhe themselves away into the recesses of coral caves。
Nature is so imposing； so magnificent； and so prolific on the Malay
Peninsula； that one naturally gives man the secondary place which I
have assigned to him in this chapter。 The whole population of the
Golden Chersonese； a region as large as Great Britain； is not more than
three…quarters of a million； and less than a half of this is Malay。
Neither great wars； nor an ancient history； nor a valuable literature；
nor stately ruins； nor barbaric splendors； attract scholars or
sight…seers to the Peninsula。
The Malays are not the Aborigines of this singular spit of land； and；
they are its colonists rather than its conquerors。 Their histories；
which are chiefly traditional； state that the extremity of the
Peninsula was peopled by a Malay emigration from Sumatra about the
middle of the twelfth century； and that the descendants of these
colonists settled Malacca and other places on the coast about a century
later。 Tradition refers the peopling of the interior States to another
and later migration from Sumatra； with a chief at its head； who； with
all his followers； married Aboriginal wives； the Aboriginal tribes
retreating into the jungles and mountains as the Malays spread
themselves over the region now known as the States of the Negri
Sembilan。 The conquest or colonization of the Malay Peninsula by the
Malays is not； however； properly speaking； matter of history； and the
origin of the Malay race and its early history are only matters of more
or less reasonable hypothesis。 It is fair； however； to presume that
Sumatra was the ancient seat of the race； and the wonderful valley of
Menangkabau； surrounded by mountains ten thousand feet in height； that
of its earliest civilization。 The only Malay 〃colonial〃 kingdoms on the
Peninsula which ever attained any importance we