seventy years ago, strikingly exhibits the change it has
undergone:—
Malacca is inhabited by the Portuguese and by natives
of the country, called Malays. The Portuguese have here
a fortress, as at Mozambique, and there is no fortress in
all the Indies, after those of Mozambique and Ormuz,
where the captains perform their duty better than in this
one. This place is the market of all India, of China, of
the Moluccas, and of other islands round about, from all
which places, as well as from Banda, Java, Sumatra, Siam,
Pegu, Bengal, Coromandel, and India, arrive ships, which
come and go incessantly, charged with an infinity of
merchandises. There would be in this place a much
greater number of Portuguese if it were not for the inconvenience,
and unhealthiness of the air, which is hurtful
not only to strangers, but also to natives of the country.
Thence it is that all who live in the country pay tribute
of their health, suffering from a certain disease, which
makes them lose either their skin or their hair. And
those who escape consider it a miracle, which occasions
many to leave the country, while the ardent desire of gain
induces others to risk their health, and endeavour to
endure such an atmosphere. The origin of this town, as
the natives say, was very small, only having at the beginning,
by reason of the unhealthiness of the air, but
six or seven fishermen who inhabited it. But the number
was increased by the meeting of fishermen from Siam,
Pegu, and Bengal, who came and built a city, and established
a peculiar language, drawn from the most elegant
modes of speaking of other nations, so that in fact the
language of the Malays is at present the most refined,
exact, and celebrated of all the East. The name of
Malacca was given to this town, which, by the convenience
of its situation, in a short time grew to such
wealth, that it does not yield to the most powerful towns
and regions round about. The natives, both men and
women, are very courteous, and are reckoned the most
skilful in the world in compliments, and study much to
compose and repeat verses and love-songs. Their language
is in vogue through the Indies, as the French is here.”
At present, a vessel over a hundred tons hardly ever
enters its port, and the trade is entirely confined to a few
petty products of the forests, and to the fruit, which the
trees planted by the old Portuguese now produce for the
enjoyment of the inhabitants of Singapore. Although
rather subject to fevers, it is not at present considered
very unhealthy.
The population of Malacca consists of several races.
The ubiquitous Chinese are perhaps the most numerous,
keeping up their manners, customs, and language ; the
indigenous Malays are next in point of numbers, and
their language is the Lingua-franca of the place. Next