Notwithstanding this, they seldom change their
garments, which are charged with a load of animal
effluvia, and among the humbler classes often permitted
to drop off in rags. To save appearances
in some measure, they are fond of wearing dark-
coloured cloths. Men and women wear, in the
affected phrase of Gibbon, a profusion of “ populous
* hair, the disposal of the inhabitants of which,
under very aggravated circumstances, is a most
nauseous spectacle frequently presented in the streets
and highways.
In point of diet, all the Indian islanders are temperate,
and even abstemious, if compared to Europeans.
I do not mean to assert that they are satisfied
with a pittance. Their frames are robust,
and they often labour severely; but under all circumstances,
a pound and a quarter of rice, a few
spiceries, and a meagre portion of animal food,
most frequently fish, is an ample daily allowance
the siek people ease themselves and make water in their chambers
; there being a small hole made purposely in the floor, to
let it drop through. But healthy sound people commonly ease
themselves and make water m the river. For that reason, you
shall always see abundance of people, of both sexes, in the
river, from morning till night; some casing themselves, others
washing their bodies or clothes. If they come into the river
purposely to wash their clothes, they strip and stand naked
till they have done ; then put them on, aud march out again.
Both men and women take great delight in swimming and
washing themselves, being bred to it from their infancy.” __
Dampier’a Voyages, Vol. I. p. 329, 330.
for an adult. * Some of the maritime tribes on a religious
principle abstain from the use of fermented
liquors. The Javanese, who are restrained by no
such prejudice, notwithstanding, seldom commit
any excess in the use of them, so that the disgusting
spectacle of a habitual drunkard is seldom pre-
. sented among them. At their own feasts and entertainments,
they occasionally drink heartily and even
to inebriety. The chiefs on such occasions rise up
and dance, and in a bacchanalian frenzy often do
many extravagant things. About ten years ago,
the son of a chief of the province of Jipang, possessed
with the belief of his own invulnerability, put
the matter to the test, and drawing his kris, killed
himself on the spot. Many examples of the same
kind have occurred. This practice of drinking
freely at public entertainments, now confined to
the Javanese, appears at one time to have been
common to all the tribes before their conversion to
Mahomedanism.
Against the Javanese a charge has been set up,
as against the Americans, of coldness and apathy
on the part of the men towards the women, and
* “ They live very soberly, anil for the most part upon
rice, to which the richer sort may add a small matter of fish,
and a few herbs; and he must be a great lord indeed that
in a day’s time eats a hen boiled or broiled upon the coals.
It is a common saying among them, that if there were two
thousand Christians in that country, all their beef and fowls
would quickly be consumedi”—* Statorinu/s Voyages, p. 743.