Page 180 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES
For people with whom loyalty to their rajas is
an article of faith, the dislike in which the King was
held by them was extraordinary. It is charitable
to suppose that early disappointment had embittered
his life, for he possessed good qualities. He was
and had a wider knowledge of
undeniably intelligent,
his country and its ancient customs than any other
man in it. He knew his own mind, was deter-
mined to obstinacy, and asked counsel of few. He
was a keen sportsman, courageous, and, having
sought the friendship of the British, never wavered
in his If it be said that in this he con-
loyalty.
sulted his own interest and knew his unpopularity
with his own people, his consistency and good
faith were still a merit. On the other hand, his
defects and vices were numerous, and just those
to earn him the dislike of He was
likely Malays.
incredibly mean, he was overbearing to cruelty,
rapaciously grasping, jealous of the good fortune of
any of his subjects, selfish, difficult of access, and
unconcerned with the misfortunes of others ; vin-
dictive to those who offended him or opposed his
wishes, a gambler who nearly always contrived to
win, and in matters where the other sex were con-
cerned, decidedly unreliable. He was not an opium-
smoker, nor was he in any sense a religious man,
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