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At the same time some deer came out of as adjacent wood； which； from being seldom shot at and regularly fed； are almost tame。 The jungle and woods which surrounded the park appearing to abound in birds； I went to shoot a few； and was rewarded by getting several specimens of the fine new kingfisher； Halcyon fulgidus； and the curious and handsome ground thrush； Zoothera andromeda。 The former belies its name by not frequenting water or feeding on fish。 It lives constantly in low damp thickets picking up ground insects； centipedes； and small mollusca。 Altogether I was much pleased with my visit to this place； and it gave me a higher opinion than I had before entertained of the taste of these people； although the style of the buildings and of the sculpture is very much inferior to those of the magnificent ruins in Java。
I must now say a few words about the character； manners； and customs of these interesting people。
The aborigines of Lombock are termed Sassaks。 They are a Malay race hardly differing in appearance from the people of Malacca or Borneo。 They are Mahometans and form the bulk of the population。 The ruling classes； on the other hand； are natives of the adjacent island of Bali； and are of the Brahminical religion。 The government is an absolute monarchy； but it seems to be conducted with more wisdom and moderation than is usual in Malay countries。 The father of the present Rajah conquered the island； and the people seem now quite reconciled to their new rulers； who do not interfere with their religion； and probably do not tax them any heavier than did the native chiefs they have supplanted。 The laws now in force in Lombock are very severe。 Theft is punished by death。 Mr。 Carter informed me that a man once stole a metal coffee…pot from his house。 He was caught； the pot restored； and the man brought to Mr。 Carter to punish as he thought fit。 All the natives recommended Mr。 Carter to have him 〃krissed〃 on the spot； 〃for if you don't；〃 said they； 〃he will rob you again。〃 Mr。 Carter； however； let him off with a warning； that if he ever came inside his premises again he would certainly be shot。 A few months afterwards the same man stole a horse from Mr。 Carter。 The horse was recovered； but the thief was not caught。 It is an established rule； that anyone found in a house after dark； unless with the owner's knowledge； may be stabbed； his body thrown out into the street or upon the beach； and no questions will be asked。
The men are exceedingly jealous and very strict with their wives。 A married woman may not accept a cigar or a sirih leaf from a stranger under pain of death。 I was informed that some years ago one of the English traders had a Balinese woman of good family living with himthe connection being considered quite honourable by the natives。 During some festival this girl offended against the law by accepting a flower or some such trifle from another man。 This was reported to the Rajah （to some of whose wives the girl was related）； and he immediately sent to the Englishman's house ordering him to give the woman up as she must be 〃krissed。〃 In vain he begged and prayed； and offered to pay any fine the Rajah might impose； and finally refused to give her up unless he was forced to do so。 This the Rajah did not wish to resort to； as he no doubt thought he was acting as much for the Englishman's honour as for his own； so he appeared to let the matter drop。 But some time afterwards he sent one of his followers to the house； who beckoned the girl to the door； and then saying； 〃The Rajah sends you this；〃 stabbed her to the heart。 More serious infidelity is punished still more cruelly； the woman and her paramour being tied back to back and thrown into the sea； where some large crocodiles are always on the watch to devour the bodies。 One such execution took place while I was at Ampanam； but I took a long walk into the country to be out of the way until it was all over； thus missing the opportunity of having a horrible narrative to enliven my somewhat tedious story。
One morning； as we were sitting at breakfast； Mr。 Carter's servant informed us that there was an 〃Amok〃 in the villagein other words； that a man was 〃running a muck。〃 Orders were immediately given to shut and fasten the gates of our enclosure； but hearing nothing for some time； we went out； and found there had been a false alarm； owing to a slave having run away； declaring he would 〃amok；〃 because his master wanted to sell him。 A short time before； a man had been killed at a gaming…table because； having lost half…a…dollar more than he possessed； he was going to 〃amok。〃 Another had killed or wounded seventeen people before he could be destroyed。 In their wars a whole regiment of these people will sometimes agree to 〃amok；〃 and then rush on with such energetic desperation as to be very formidable to men not so excited as themselves。 Among the ancients these would have been looked upon as heroes or demigods who sacrificed themselves for their country。 Here it is simply saidthey made 〃amok。〃
Macassar is the most celebrated place in the East for 〃running a muck。〃 There are said to be one or two a month on the average； and five； ten； or twenty persons are sometimes killed or wounded at one of them。 It is the national； and therefore the honourable； mode of committing suicide among the natives of Celebes； and is the fashionable way of escaping from their difficulties。 A Roman fell upon his sword； a Japanese rips up his stomach； and an Englishman blows out his brains with a pistol。 The Bugis mode has many advantages to one suicidically inclined。 A man thinks himself wronged by societyhe is in debt and cannot payhe is taken for a slave or has gambled away his wife or child into slaveryhe sees no way of recovering what he has lost； and becomes desperate。 He will not put up with such cruel wrongs； but will be revenged on mankind and die like a hero。 He grasps his kris…handle； and the next moment draws out the weapon and stabs a man to the heart。 He runs on； with bloody kris in his hand； stabbing at everyone he meets。 〃Amok！ Amok！〃 then resounds through the streets。 Spears； krisses； knives and guns are brought out against him。 He rushes madly forward； kills all he canmen； women； and childrenand dies overwhelmed by numbers amid all the excitement of a battle。 And what that excitement is those who have been in one best know； but all who have ever given way to violent passions； or even indulged in violent and exciting exercises； may form a very good idea。 It is a delirious intoxication； a temporary madness that absorbs every thought and every energy。 And can we wonder at the kris…bearing； untaught； brooding Malay preferring such a death； looked upon as almost honourable to the cold…blooded details of suicide； if he wishes to escape from overwhelming troubles； or the merciless of the hangman and the disgrace of a public execution； when he has taken the law into his own hands and too hastily revenged himself upon his enemy？ In either case he chooses rather to 〃amok。〃
The great staples of the trade of Lombock as well as of Bali are rice and coffee； the former grown on the plains； the latter on the hills。 The rice is exported very largely to other islands of the Archipelago； to