Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 12.djvu/826

* MALAYAN StTBBEGION, found in this subrcgion are the birds of paradise and tlif orang-utan— the last recalling the fact that Java was the home of Pithecanthropus (q V ) which, with other considerations, has led ma'iiV 'ithuologisU to believe that mankind de- veloped its spwies in this part of the world. See Obientai. Kkc.iox. MALAYO-POLYNESIAN. An ethnological term, based originally "pon linguistic relations, designatin- the brown or JIalayan race, with reference to its western or Malayan and its eastern or Polynesian division. See JLl.t.vx PEOn.ES; P0LY.NESLNS. MAO/AY PENINSULA, or MALACCA. A long, narrow i)eiiinsula projecting in a south- easterly direction from the southeastern part of Asia, beginning about latitude 13° 30' N., and terminal ing in latitude 1° 22' X. It is bounded bv the t'bina Sea on the east and the Indian Ocean on the west, and is separated from Su- matra bv the Straits of Malacca (Map: French Indo-China, U D). It is about 8.50 miles long, and its width varies from 45 miles at the Isthmus of Kra to upward of 200 miles at Perak. The peninsula is formed by the southern cxtensiou of the mountain ranges that are the water jiart- ing iM'tween the basins of the Salwiii and .Menam rivers. Tlic liigliest elevation is 8000 feet. The granite and sandstone mimutain baeklione is not continuous, but is broken into several fragments; and the plains, east and west of tlic mountains, are cut up into areas, large or small, by broad river valleys, in which comparatively small streams carry the drainage to the sea, some of them biing navigable for .short distances. The climate is hot and exceedingly unbealthful for foreigners, mahiria being a CDiiimmi disease. The health conditions of the towns important in commerce have been much improved by sanitary measures. The port of Malacca, for ex.iinplc, once regarded as the grave of Euroiieans. is now fairly salubriuus. The vegetation is rich and 734 MALBROOK. Britain. The total area of the peninsula is es- timated at about 100.000 square miles, with a population of about 1,500,000, consisting lor the greater part of iialays and Siamese, with a small number of Negritos, Chinese, and Euro- peans. The commerce of the peninsula is greatly promoted by the fact that the Straits of JUilacoa are the gateway between the Far East and the Occident. The vessels of over fifty regular steam- ship lines are constantly passing through the straits, stopping at Singapore. For details, see articles on Straits Settlements; Sinuai'oee; Paiiano; Peb.uc; IU r.ma, etc. liiBLiocKAPUV. Keaiie, Malay Peninsula (Lon- don, 1887) ; JlcXair, I'erak and the Malays; Ha- ronq and Kris (London, 1878); Bishoii. The Golden Chersonese (London, 1883) ; Skinner. The Eastern Geography: A Geography of the Malay Peninsula and Surrounding Countries (London, 1884) ; Keane, Eastern Geography (2d ed., Lon- don, 1892) : Lucas, Historicul Geography of the British ('o/omV.s (Oxford, 1894) ; Clilford, Studies in Ilroicn humanity (London, 1898) ; id.. In a Corner of Asia ( ib., 1899); Swettenham, The Real Malay (London, 1899) ; Skeat, Malay Magic (London, 1900) ; Rathbone, Camping and Tramp- ing in Malay (London, 1898). MALAYS. The terra applied to a particular group or section of the Malayo-Polynesian race, found in its ai)proximate purity in the penin- sula bearing this name, and the Mcnangkabau region of Sumatra. Soon after their arrival, the
 * Malays proper intermingled to a certain extent

with their predecessors. Into the peninsula they brought a relatively high culture. The Malays of tlic interior are "in all respects more fi.ed in tvpe than those of the coast. With the excep- tion of the degenerate population of the sea- ports, the Malay gives abundant evidence that he has behind him a somewhat high eulturf. with which are associated a varied artistic skill and the expressions of a well-developed language and literature. The better part of the Malays, rep- varied, and the forests which still cover nearly ,',tp(i 'w ^]^f, forest-dwellers, as contrasted xl._ *:_„ :..^..1.. n^n full rtf „o1t»io 'i.j innnv . . . .•'.... ... __ .. i_. the entire peninsula are full of palms, as many as 42 varieties being known to exist. The fauna of the peninsula is not unlike that of Borneo and Sumatra, but it has in addition some species unknown in those islands, as the royal tiger, the elephant, deer, and rhinoceros, of which there are two kinds. The peninsula is very rich in min- erals, especially tin, which is mined to a very large extent, the gi-eater part of the world's tin teu JI.^ay States. with the inhabitants of the towns, are not only men well up in their special crafts, but very companionable, and fond of their homes and families. Their loyalty to their native chiefs, their honesty, and their sense of personal honor are marked." See JIalatan Peoples. MALAY STATES, Federated. See Federa- coniing from this region. Silver and gold are also found, the export of the latter from the State of Pahang for 1898 amounting to 22,160 ounces. The principal agricultural products are raw sugar, cotton, tobacco, cofTee. and tea. Politically the peninsula is divided between Siam and Great Britain. To the former belong the provinces of Qucdah, Patani, Kelantan, Trenganu. and some others, occupying the north- eastern and middle portions of the peninsula. The southern half of the rich Province of Tcn- asserim. Burma, forms the northwestern part of the peninsula. The Straits Settlements, consist- ing of Singapore. ^Talacca, and Penang. with the provinces of Wellesley and the Dingdings, constitute a Crown colony of (^reat Britain, ■while the Federated Malay States of Perak. Selangor. Xegri Sembilan. with its amalgamated States, and Pahang. together with the native State of Jehore, are under the protection of Great MALBONE, mal-bon', Edward Greene (1777- 1807). An American portrait ]iainter. born at Newport, P>. I. In 1800 he accompanied Wash- ington Allston to Charleston, S. C and the next year went to Europe. At London he met Renja- "min West, president of the Royal Society, who recognized his ability and even urged him to make London his permanent residence. Malbom^. however, returned to Charleston, and subsef|uent- Iv practiced his art with success in several American cities, devoting himself particularly to miniatures. His best picture is "The Hours." in which the present, past, and future are repre- sented by female figures. This work, which was bought from the Mallione heirs for $1200, is now in the Providence Athenaetim. MALBROOK, mal-bnik', or MALBROXIGH. A French satirical song, written about the Duke of ]Iarlborough. It is known also by the