one whose lot is unchanging, whose desires are few, and who is satisfied to be as he is. It is a negative expression, without sadness, without pain, and yet sufficiently far removed from dullness or stupidity. It speaks of the long years during which Ünat's forebears have laboured stolidly, have been as driven cattle before prince or chief, and yet have accepted their lot as they found it, without resistance or com- plaint, finding therein a fair measure of happiness. since the knowledge of better things has been merci- fully withheld from them. A divine discontent may be the beginning of all improvement, but beyond all gainsaying it sounds the knell to placid happiness and content.
This is what one reads in Ûmal's face when it is in repose, but it is subject to the changes wrought by many emotions. Suddenly his features break up into a thousand creases, the brown skin puckering in numberless divergent lines, like the surface of a muddy puddle into which a stone has been cast. A noise like the crowing of a cock combined with the roaring of a bull accompanies this phenomenon, and you may then know that mat's sense of humour has been tickled. It does not take much to amuse him. for, like most Malays, he is very light-hearted; and all Ûmat's world laughs with and at him. Almost every Kelantan fishing-boat that puts to sea carries its álan-álan, or jester, with it, for toil is lightened if men be merry, and in days gone by Ûmat was one of the most popular and successful men of this class on the coast. A quaint phrase, a happy repartee,
