Page 96 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

about four feet high and two-and-a-half feet in
remained
diameter naturally unopened.
Every night, owing to the myriads of mosquitoes,
a large bonfire was lit in the middle of the stockade,
for only in the smoke of that fire was it possible to
eat one's dinner. One night some Malays from the
had come and the to
village in, police were trying
amuse them and forget their own miseries by danc-
ing and singing round the fire. Under such circum-
stances Malays have a happy knack of making the
and
best of things, they laugh easily often, and as I
have said elsewhere, they have a strong sense of
humour if not always of a very refined description.
Some one had introduced one of the Kasims, in his
character of an orang Idtah^ for the benefit of the
and one of the men was to fetch
strangers, inspired
the roll of matting, and solemnly presenting it to
Kasim the younger, said, "Kasim, here is your
wife."
Even now I do not forget the smile of beatitude
and satisfaction with which Kasim Minor regarded
that undesirable and figureless bundle. Breathing the
words in a low voice, almost sighing to himself,
11 here he embraced the
Kasim, is your wife,"
matting with great fervour, constantly repeating
" " "
My wife ! my wife ! Some one said, Kiss
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