Page 89 - Malay sketches

LATAH

people of this class (and it is by far the most common
one) are very good humoured and never seem to
think of resenting the liberty taken with their
If word or deed commit them-
infirmity. by they
selves (and that is not uncommon) they either run
away, or appear to be unconscious of having said
or done anything unusual (this however is rare), or
"
they simply say, I am Idtah" as a full explanation
and excuse.
If any one present accidentally drops something on
the floor, if a lizard falls from the roof on to or near
a Idtah if the wind blows the shutter of a
person,
window to with a bang, a Idtah person of the class
I speak of will probably find it necessary to at least
say something not usually heard in polite society.
Of this class by far the majority are women.
I have never seen a Idtah or but I know
boy girl,
they are to be found, though the disease certainly
becomes more evident as the subject grows older.
It must be understood that except when under
influence, when actually showing the evidences of
this strange peculiarity, Idtah people are undis-
tinguishable from others. It is sufficient proof of
this that amongst my twenty-five police there
should have been two men more completely Idtah
than any I have seen before or since.
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