They are a Malay
race hardly differing in appearance from the people of Malacca or
Borneo.
They are Mahometans and form the bulk of the population.
The ruling classes, on the other hand, are natives of the
adjacent island of Bali, and are of the Brahminical religion. The
government is an absolute monarchy, but it seems to be conducted
with more wisdom and moderation than is usual in Malay countries.
The father of the present Rajah conquered the island, and the
people seem now quite reconciled to their new rulers, who do not
interfere with their religion, and probably do not tax them any
heavier than did the native chiefs they have supplanted. The laws
now in force in Lombock are very severe. Theft is punished by
death. Mr. Carter informed me that a man once stole a metal
coffee-pot from his house. He was caught, the pot restored, and
the man brought to Mr. Carter to punish as he thought fit. All
the natives recommended Mr. Carter to have him "krissed" on the
spot; "for if you don't," said they, "he will rob you again." Mr.
Carter, however, let him off with a warning, that if he ever
came inside his premises again he would certainly be shot. A few
months afterwards the same man stole a horse from Mr. Carter. The
horse was recovered, but the thief was not caught. It is an
established rule, that anyone found in a house after dark,
unless with the owner's knowledge, may be stabbed, his body
thrown out into the street or upon the beach, and no questions
will be asked.
The men are exceedingly jealous and very strict with their wives.
A married woman may not accept a cigar or a sirih leaf from a
stranger under pain of death. I was informed that some years ago
one of the English traders had a Balinese woman of good family
living with him - the connection being considered quite honourable
by the natives. During some festival this girl offended against
the law by accepting a flower or some such trifle from another
man. This was reported to the Rajah (to some of whose wives the
girl was related), and he immediately sent to the Englishman's
house ordering him to give the woman up as she must be "krissed."
In vain he begged and prayed, and offered to pay any fine the
Rajah might impose, and finally refused to give her up unless he
was forced to do so. This the Rajah did not wish to resort to, as
he no doubt thought he was acting as much for the Englishman's
honour as for his own; so he appeared to let the matter drop. But
some time afterwards he sent one of his followers to the house,
who beckoned the girl to the door, and then saying, "The Rajah
sends you this," stabbed her to the heart. More serious
infidelity is punished still more cruelly, the woman and her
paramour being tied back to back and thrown into the sea, where
some large crocodiles are always on the watch to devour the
bodies.
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