with which I am acquainted. Most birds fight more or less--from the little fierce quail to the sucking doves which ignorant Europeans, before their illusions have been dispelled by a sojourn in the East, are accustomed to regard as the emblems of peace and purity; but no bird, or beast, or fish, or human being fights so well, or takes such pleasure in the fierce joy of battle, as does a plucky, lanky, ugly, hard-bit old fighting-cock. "The Malays regard these birds with immense respect, and value their fighting-cocks next to their children. A few years ago, a boy, who was in charge of a cock which belonged to a Râja of my acquaintance, accidentally pulled some feathers from the bird's tail. 'What did you do that for? Devil!' cried the Râja. "'It was not done on purpose, Ungku!' said the boy. "'Thou art marvellous clever at repartee!' quoth the Prince, and, so saying, he lifted a billet of wood, which chanced to be lying near at hand, and smote the boy on the head so that he died. "'That will teach my people to have a care how they use my fighting-cocks!' said the Râja; and that was his servant's epitaph. "'It is a mere boyish prank,' said the father of the young Râja, when the matter was reported to him, 'and, moreover, it is well that he should slay one or two with his own hand, else how should men learn to fear him?' And there the matter ended; but it should be borne in mind that the fighting-cock of a Malay Prince is not to be lightly trifled with." Of the form of cock-fighting practised on the West Coast of the Peninsula Newbold writes:-- "The following is a specimen from a Malay MS. on the subject, commencing with remarks on the various breeds of this noble bird:-- "The best breeds of game-cocks are the Biring, the Jalak, the Teddong, the Chenantan, [694] the Ijou, the Pilas, the Bongkas, [695] the Su, the Belurong, [696] and the Krabu. [697] "The colour of the Biring is red with yellow feet and beak. "The Jalak is white mixed with black, with yellow feet, and beak also yellow mixed with black. "The Teddong has black eyes and legs, red and black plumage, and a black beak. It is named from a sort of serpent, whose bite is accounted mortal. "The Chenantan has white feathers, feet, and beak. "The Ijou has a greenish black beak, feathers black mixed with white, legs green. "The Pilas has a black beak, red and black feathers, legs white mixed with black. "The Bongkas has a yellow beak, white feathers and yellow feet. "The Su has a white beak with white spots, plumage white and black, legs white with black spots. "The Belurong has a white beak with red spots, plumage red, white feet. "The Krabu has a red beak mixed with yellow, red feathers and yellow feet. "There are two kinds of spurs: first, the Golok Golok, in the form of a straight knife known by this name and in use with the Malays; and, secondly, the Taji Benkok, or curved spur: the last is most in vogue.