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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； and the peculiar form of the nose is always shown in the figures which they carve for ornaments to their houses； or as charms to wear round their necks。
The moral characteristics of the Papuan appear to me to separate him as distinctly from the Malay as do his form and features。 He is impulsive and demonstrative in speech and action。 His emotions and passions express themselves in shouts and laughter； in yells and frantic leapings。 Women and children take their share in every discussion； and seem little alarmed at the sight of strangers and Europeans。
Of the intellect of this race it is very difficult to judge； but I am inclined to rate it somewhat higher than that of the Malays； notwithstanding the fact that the Papuans have never yet made any advance towards civilization。 It must be remembered； however； that for centuries the Malays have been influenced by Hindoo； Chinese； and Arabic immigration； whereas the Papuan race has only been subjected to the very partial and local influence of Malay traders。 The Papuan has much more vital energy； which would certainly greatly assist his intellectual development。 Papuan slaves show no inferiority of intellect。 compared with Malays； but rather the contrary； and in the Moluccas they are often promoted to places of considerable trust。 The Papuan has a greater feeling for art than the Malay。 He decorates his canoe； his house； and almost every domestic utensil with elaborate carving； a habit which is rarely found among tribes of the Malay race。
In the affections and moral sentiments； on the other hand； the Papuans seem very deficient。 In the treatment of their children they are often violent and cruel； whereas the Malays are almost invariably kind and gentle； hardly ever interfering at all with their children's pursuits and amusements； and giving them perfect liberty at whatever age they wish to claim it。 But these very peaceful relations between parents and children are no doubt； in a great measure； due to the listless and apathetic character of the race； which never leads the younger members into serious opposition to the elders； while the harsher discipline of the Papuans may be chiefly due to that greater vigour and energy of mind which always； sooner or later； leads to the rebellion of the weaker against the stronger；the people against their rulers； the slave against his master； or the child against its parent。
It appears； therefore； that； whether we consider their physical conformation； their moral characteristics； or their intellectual capacities； the Malay and Papuan races offer remarkable differences and striking contrasts。 The Malay is of short stature； brown…skinned； straight…haired； beardless； and smooth… bodied。 The Papuan is taller； is black…skinned； frizzly…haired； bearded； and hairy…bodied。 The former is broad…faced； has a small nose； and flat eyebrows； the latter is long…faced； has a large and prominent nose； and projecting eyebrows。 The Malay is bashful； cold； undemonstrative； and quiet； the Papuan is bold； impetuous； excitable； and noisy。 The former is grave and seldom laughs； the latter is joyous arid laughter…loving；the one conceals his emotions； the other displays them。
Having thus described in some detail； the great physical； intellectual； and moral differences between the Malays and Papuans； we have to consider the inhabitants of the numerous islands which do not agree very closely with either of these races。 The islands of Obi； Batchian； and the three southern peninsulas of Gilolo； possess no true indigenous population； but the northern peninsula is inhabited by a native race； the so… called Alfuros of Sahoe and Galela。 These people are quite distinct from the Malays； and almost equally so from the Papuans。 They are tall and well…made； with Papuan features； and curly hair； they are bearded and hairy…limbed； but quite as light in colour as the Malays。 They are an industrious and enterprising race； cultivating rice and vegetables； and indefatigable in their search after g