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Peninsula； the aborigines of Northern Celebes； of the Sula island； and of part of Bouru。
The colour of all these varied tribes is a light reddish brown； with more or less of an olive tinge； not varying in any important degree over an extent of country as large as all Southern Europe。 The hair is equally constant； being invariably black and straight； and of a rather coarse texture； so that any lighter tint； or any wave or curl in it； is an almost certain proof of the admixture of some foreign blood。 The face is nearly destitute of beard； and the breast and limbs are free from hair。 The stature is tolerably equal； and is always considerably below that of the average European； the body is robust； the breast well developed； the feet small； thick； and short； the hands small and rather delicate。 The face is a little broad； and inclined to be flat； the forehead is rather rounded； the brows low； the eyes black and very slightly oblique； the nose is rather small； not prominent； but straight and well…shaped； the apex a little rounded； the nostrils broad and slightly exposed； the cheek…bones are rather prominent； the mouth large； the lips broad and well cut； but not protruding； the chin round and well…formed。
In this description there seems little to object to on the score of beauty； and yet on the whole the Malays are certainly not handsome。 In youth； however； they are often very good…looking； and many of the boys and girls up to twelve or fifteen years of age are very pleasing； and some have countenances which are in their way almost perfect。 I am inclined to think they lose much of their good looks by bad habits and irregular living。 At a very early age。 they chew betel and tobacco almost incessantly； they suffer much want and exposure in their fishing and other excursions； their lives are often passed in alternate starvation and feasting； idleness and excessive labour；and this naturally produces premature old age and harshness of features。
In character the Malay is impassive。 He exhibits a reserve； diffidence； and even bashfulness； which is in some degree attractive； and leads the observer to thinly that the ferocious and bloodthirsty character imputed to the race must be grossly exaggerated。 He is not demonstrative。 His feelings of surprise； admiration； or fear； are never openly manifested； and are probably not strongly felt。 He is slow and deliberate in speech； and circuitous in introducing the subject he has come expressly to discuss。 These are the main features of his moral nature； and exhibit themselves in every action of his life。
Children and women are timid； and scream and run at the unexpected sight of a European。 In the company of men they are silent； and are generally quiet and obedient。 When alone the Malay is taciturn； he neither talks nor sings to himself。 When several are paddling in a canoe； they occasionally chant a monotonous and plaintive song。 He is cautious of giving offence to his equals。 He does not quarrel easily about money matters； dislikes asking too frequently even for payment of his just debts； and will often give them up altogether rather than quarrel with his debtor。 Practical joking is utterly repugnant to his disposition； for he is particularly sensitive to breaches of etiquette； or any interference with the personal liberty of himself or another。 As an example； I may mention that I have often found it very difficult to get one Malay servant to waken another。 He will call as loud as he can； but will hardly touch； much less shake his comrade。 I have frequently had to waken a hard sleeper myself when on a land or sea journey。
The higher classes of Malays are exceedingly polite； and have all the quiet ease and dignity of the best…bred Europeans。 Yet this is compatible with a reckless cruelty and contempt of human life； which is the dark side of their character。 It is not to be wondered at； therefore； that different persons give totally opposite accounts of themone praising them for their soberness； civility； and good…nature； another abusing them for their deceit； treachery； and cruelty。 The old traveller Nicolo Conti； writing in 1430； says： 〃The inhabitants of Java and Sumatra exceed every other people in cruelty。 They regard killing a man as a mere jest； nor is any punishment allotted for such a deed。 If any one purchase a new sword； and wish to try it； he will thrust it into the breast of the first person he meets。 The passers…by examine the wound； and praise the skill of the person who inflicted it； if he thrust in the weapon direct。〃 Yet Drake says of the south of Java： 〃The people （as are their kings） are a very loving； true； and just…dealing people；〃 and Mr。 Crawfurd says that the Javanese； whom he knew thoroughly； are 〃a peaceable； docile； sober； simple； and industrious people。〃 Barbosa； on the other hand； who saw them at Malacca about 1660； says： 〃They are a people of great ingenuity； very subtle in all their dealings； very malicious； great deceivers； seldom speaking the truth； prepared to do all manner of wickedness； and ready to sacrifice their lives。〃
The intellect of the Malay race seems rather deficient。 They are incapable of anything beyond the simplest combinations of ideas； and have little taste or energy for the acquirement of knowledge。 Their civilization； such as it is； does not seem to be indigenous； as it is entirely confined to those nations who have been converted to the Mahometan or Brahminical religions。
I will now give an equally brief sketch of the other great race of the Malay Archipelago； the Papuan。
The typical Papuan race is in many respects the very opposite of the Malay； and it has hitherto been very imperfectly described。 The colour of the body is a deep sooty…brown or black； sometimes approaching； but never quite equalling； the jet…black of some negro races。 It varies in tint； however； more than that of the Malay； and is sometimes a dusky…brown。 The hair is very peculiar； being harsh； dry； and frizzly； growing in little tufts or curls； which in youth are very short and compact； but afterwards grow out to a； considerable length； forming the compact frizzled mop which is the Papuans' pride and glory。 The face is adorned with a beard of the same frizzly nature as the hair of the head。 The arms； legs； and breast are also more or less clothed with hair of a similar nature。
In stature the Papuan decidedly surpasses the Malay； and is perhaps equal； or even superior； to the average of Europeans。 The legs are long and thin； and the hands and feet larger than in the Malays。 The face is somewhat elongated； the forehead flatfish； the brows very prominent； the nose is large； rather arched and high； the base thick； the nostrils broad； with the aperture hidden； owing to the tip of the nose being elongated； the mouth is large； the lips thick and protuberant。 The face has thus an altogether more European aspect than in the Malay； owing to the large nose； and the peculiar form of this organ； with the more prominent brows and the character of the hair on the head； face； and body； enable us at a glance to distinguish the two races。 I have observed that most of these characteristic features are as distinctly visible in children of ten or twelve years old as in adults