Games
“Gambling of various descriptions, both with dice and with cards, is much in
vogue. These, as well as the poe-table, have been introduced by the Chinese,
who are even greater adepts than the Malays in all that relates to this pernicious
vice.
“Saparaga^165 is a game resembling football, played by ten or twenty youths and
men, who stand in a circle, keeping up a hollow ratan ball in the air, which is
passed to and fro by the action of the knees and feet—the object being to prevent
the ball from touching the ground; it is frequently, however, taken at the
rebound. The awkwardness of novices occasions great merriment.
“The Sangheta^166 is a game implicating broken heads; but, properly speaking, is
a ‘vi et armis’ mode of arbitration in matters of dispute between two Sukus or
tribes. A certain number of men from each tribe turn out and pelt each other with
sticks and logs of wood, until one of the parties gives in. The victors in this petty
tourney are presumed to have the right on their side.
“The Malays are remarkably attached to singing reciprocal Pantuns, stanzas
comprising four alternate rhyming lines, of which notice has been taken
elsewhere. Poetical contests in the Bucolic style are often carried on to a great
length by means of Pantuns. To music Malays are passionately devoted,
particularly to that of the violin. They evince a good ear, and great readiness in
committing to memory even European airs. A voyage or journey of any length is
seldom undertaken by the better classes without a minstrel.