The Malay archipelago : the land of the orang-utan ... - Wallace Online

CUSTOMSXI. 1LOMBOCK :OF THE PEOPLE. 133Altogether I was much pleased with my visit to thismollusca.place, and it gave me a higher opinion than I had before entei^tainedof the taste of tliese people, although the style of thebuildings and of the sculpture is very much inferior to those ofthe magnificent ruins in Java. I must now say a few wordsabout the character, manners, and customs of these interestingpeople.The aborigines of Lombock are termed Sassaks. Tliey are aMalay race hardlj^ differing in appearance from the people ofMalacca or Borneo. They are Mahometans and form the bulkof the population. The ruling classes, on the other hand, arenatives of the adjacent island of Bali, and are of the Brahminicalreligion. The go^-ernment is an absolute monarcliy, but it seemsto be conducted with more wisdom and moderation than is usualin Malay countnes. The father of the present Eajali conqueredthe i.sland, and the people seem now quite reconciled to theirnew rulers, Avho do not interfere with their religion, and probablydo not tax them any heavier than did tlie native chiefsthey have supplanted. The laws now in force in Lombock arevery .severe. Theft is punished by death. "Mr. Carter informedme that a man once stole a metal coffee-pot from liis house.was caught, the pot restored, and the man bi'ought to Mr. Carterto punish as he thought fit. All the natives recommended Mr.Carter to have liim "krissed" on the spot ; "for if you don't,"said they,_ " he will rob you again." Mr. Carter, however, lethini off", with a warning, that if he ever came inside his premisesagain he would certainly be shot. A few months afterwards thesame man stole a horse from Mr. Carter. The horse was recovered,but the thief was not caught. It is an established rule,that any one found in a house after dark, unless with the owner'sknowledge, may be stablied, his body thrown out into tlie streetor upon the beach, and no questions will be asked.The men are exceedingly jealous and veiy strict with theirwives. A married woman may not accept a cigar or a sirili leaffrom a stranger under pain of death. I was informed that someyears ago one of the English traders had a Balinese woman ofHe/good family li\-ing witli him—the pnnexion being considered iquite honourable by tlie native.s. I During some festival this ^^^^-^girl offended again.st the law by accepfing a flower or some such | .itrifle from another man. Tliis was reported to the Eajah (tosome of whose wives the girl was related), and he immediatelysent to the Englishman's house, ordering him to give the womanup as she must be "krissed." In vain lie begged and prayed,and offered to pay any fine the Eajali might impose, and finallyrefused to give her up unless he was forced to do so. This theEajah did not wish to resort to, as he no doubt thought lie wasacting as much for the Englishman's honour as for his own ; sohe appeared to let the matter drop. But some time afterwards,lie sent one of his followers to the house, who beckoned the girlto the door, and then saying, "The Eajah sends you tliis,";>.'-?.