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I was always slipping down and trying to wriggle myself up on the great
ridge which was the creature's backbone； and always failing； and the
mahout was always stopping and pulling the rattan ropes which bound the
whole arrangement together； but never succeeding in improving it。
＇*See Frontispiece。＇
Before we had traveled two hours； the great bulk of the elephant；
without any warning； gently subsided behind； and then as gently in
front； the huge； ugly legs being extended in front of him； and the man
signed to me to get off； which I did by getting on his head and letting
myself down by a rattan rope upon the driver； who made a step of his
back； for even when 〃kneeling；〃 as this queer attitude is called； a
good ladder is needed for comfortable getting off and on。 While the
whole arrangement of baskets was being re…rigged； I clambered into a
Malay dwelling of the poorer class； and was courteously received and
regaled with bananas and buffalo milk。 Hospitality is one of the Malay
virtues。 This house is composed of a front hut and a back hut with a
communication。 Like all others it is raised to a good height on posts。
The uprights are of palm； and the elastic； gridiron floor of split
laths of the invaluable nibong palm （oncosperma filamentosum）。 The
sides are made of neatly split reeds； and the roof； as in all houses；
of the dried leaves of the nipah palm （nipa fruticans） stretched over a
high ridge pole and steep rafters of bamboo。 I could not see that a
single nail had been used in the house。 The whole of it is lashed
together with rattan。 The furniture consists entirely of mats； which
cover a part of the floor； and are used both for sitting on and
sleeping on； and a few small； hard； circular bolsters with embroidered
ends。 A musket； a spear； some fishing…rods； and a buffalo yoke hung
against the wall of the reception room。 In the back room； the province
of the women and children； there were an iron pot； a cluster of
bananas； and two calabashes。 The women wore only sarongs； and the
children nothing。 The men； who were not much clothed； were lounging on
the mats。
The Malays are passionately fond of pets； and are said to have much
skill in taming birds and animals。 Doubtless their low voices and
gentle； supple movements never shock the timid sensitiveness of brutes。
Besides this； Malay children yield a very ready obedience to their
elders； and are encouraged to invite the confidence of birds and
beasts； rather than to torment them。 They catch birds by means of
bird…lime made of gutta； by horse…hair nooses； and by imitating their
call。 In this small house there were bamboo cages containing twenty
birds； most of them talking minas and green…feathered small pigeons。
They came out of their cages when called； and perched in rows on the
arms of the men。 I don't know whether the mina can learn many words；
but it imitates the human voice so wonderfully that in Hawaii when it
spoke English I was quite deceived by it。 These minas articulated so
humanly that I did know whether a bird or a Malay spoke。 There were
four love…birds in an exquisitely made bamboo cage； lovely little
creatures with red beaks and blue and green plumage。 The children catch
small grasshoppers for their birds with a shovel…shaped instrument of
open rattan work。 When I add that there were some homely domestic fowls
and a nearly tailless cat； I think I have catalogued the visible
possessions of this family； with the exception of a bamboo cradle with
a small brown inmate hanging from the rafters； and a small shed； used；
I believe； for storing rice。
The open floor； while it gives air and ventilation； has also its
disadvantages； for solid and liquid refuse is thrown through it so
conveniently that the ground under the house is apt to contain stagnant
pools and heaps of decomposing matter； and men lying asleep on mats on
these gridirons have sometimes been stabbed with a kris inserted
between the bars from below by an enemy seeking revenge。
I must not； however； give the impression that the Malays are a dirty
people。 They wash their clothes frequently； and bathe as often as is
possible。 They try to build their houses near water； and use small
bathing…sheds。
I went into another house； rather poorer than the former； and； with a
touching hospitality； they made signs to me to know if I would like a
cocoa…nut。 I hinted that I would； and the man at once got up and called
to him an ape or monkey about three feet high； which was playing with a
child； and the animal went out with him； and in no time was at the top
of a tall cocoa…nut tree。 His master said something to him； and he
moved about examining the nuts till he decided upon a green one； which
he wrung off； using teeth and hands for the operation。 The slightly
acid milk was refreshing； but its 〃meat；〃 which was of the consistency
and nearly the tastelessness of the white of an egg boiled for five
minutes； was not so good as that of the riper nuts。
I had walked on for some distance； and I had to walk back again before
I found my elephant。 I had been poking about in the scrub in search of
some acid fruits； and when I got back to the road； was much surprised
to find that my boots were filled with blood； and on looking for the
cause I found five small brown leeches； beautifully striped with
yellow； firmly attached to my ankles。 I had not heard that these were
pests in Perak； and feared that they were something worse； but the
elephant driver； seeing my plight； made some tobacco juice and squirted
it over the creatures； when they recoiled in great disgust。 Owing to
the exercise I was obliged to take； the bites bled for several hours。 I
do not remember feeling the first puncture。 I have now heard that these
blood…suckers infest leaves and herbage； and that when they hear the
rustling made by man or animal in passing； they stretch themselves to
their fullest length； and if they can touch any part of his body or
dress they hold on to it； and as quickly as possible reach some spot
where they can suck their fill。
I am making my narrative as slow as my journey； but the things I write
of will be as new to you as they were to me。 New it was certainly to
stand upon a carpet of the sensitive plant at noon； with the rays of a
nearly vertical sun streaming down from a cloudless； steely blue sky；
watching the jungle monster meekly kneeling on the ground； with two
Malays who do not know a word of English as my companions； and myself
unarmed and unescorted in the heart of a region so lately the scene of
war； about which seven blue books have been written； and about the
lawlessness and violence of which so many stories have been
industriously circulated。
Certainly I always dreamed that there must be something splendid in
riding on an elephant； but I don't feel the least accession of dignity
in consequence。 It is true； however； here； that though the trappings
are mean and almost savage； a man's importance is estimated by the
number of his elephants。 When the pack was adjusted； the mahout jumped
on the back； and giving me his hands hauled me up over the head； after
which the creature rose gently from the ground； and we went on our
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