Page:History of the Indian Archipelago Vol 2.djvu/62

48 LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE of poetry or literature, and yet they are the only description of composition which can justly be considered national or original among the Malays. It is in the light only of amusing trifles that the Malays themselves, indeed, consider them ; and they are scarcely of higher dignity in their estimation than the nonsensical rhymes which we call crambo are in our own. A few of the best are committed to memory, and we often hear them repeated. The following are favourable specimens : Marak anggok-anggok Miirak de-atas kota Bargrak ujung Sanggul Naik sri muka. The peacock nods his head ; The peacock that sits on the castle, When the loose end of her braided hair tremblc^j New beauties rise in her countenance. Trang buian arara tamaram Hantu barjalan iakki bini. Jangan tuan tararam aram Saya tiada datang ka-sini. By the dim light of the moon. Wander spectres of both sexes. Chide me not again, my love, For I will not come hither. Jika tiada karna bulan Musakan bintang timur tinggi. Jika tiada karana tuan Masakan abang datang kamari.