The Bugis are essentially maritime and commercial; and their name in the latter department is a good one; they being active, enterprising, and men who consider themselves bound by what they say. _Bugis approach to a constitutional government._--I am following, implicitly, both the facts and the deductions of Sir J. Brooke, who writes from personal knowledge of the island of Celebes, which he visited from his Rajahship of Sarawak, in giving prominence to what may be considered the nearest approach to a _constitution_, that is to be found in any Malay area. One of the kingdoms into which the southern limb of Celebes is divided is the kingdom of Wajo. Beginning with the lowest ranks, the so-called constitution of Wajo is as follows:-- _Servitude._--This is of a mild form, and of the domestic kind. Although so extensive in respect to its _numerical_ dimensions, as for one freeman to have, sometimes, upwards of fifty slaves, an export or import trade is unknown. Debt creates the usual supply; since by incurring an amount which he cannot discharge by means of his property, the debtor forfeits his personal freedom. As this forfeiture extends to his family, bondsmanship becomes hereditary. _Freeman not of noble birth._--The lowest sort of political power exercised by a _freeman not of noble birth_, seems to be the power of holding meetings, where opinions may be stated, but where resolutions can not be passed. The practical bearing of this seems to be, that the higher magistrates have a means of knowing the feelings of the population at large upon any particular measure. Such meetings are convened by the special representatives of the people, _i.e._ of the not _noble_ portion of the state--the _Pangawas_. _The Pangawas._--These are rude analogues of the _tribunes_ of the Roman constitution. They are elected by the people. They, alone, can convene certain councils. They have a _veto_ upon the appointment of the _aru matoah_, or sovereign magistrate. The details as to the state of the towns and villages, and the number of the population is in their hands. No summons to military service is valid without their consent. The number of pangawas is three. _The Council of Forty._--A council of forty arangs, or nobles of inferior rank, is appealed to in cases of importance and difficulty by the-- _Six hereditary Rajahs._--Of these, three are civil, and three military. With these rests the election of the-- _Aru Matoah_, or chief magistrate. Reversing the view here taken, and looking at the Wajo constitution from its highest elements downwards, the form becomes as follows:-- Aru Matoah. The six Rajahs, of which the _Aru Beting_ is chief. Council of Forty. Three Pangawas. General Council, or Meeting.