Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.305

c10.305

1516.—“There are some of them (Javanese) who if they fall ill of any severe illness vow to God that if they remain in health they will of their own accord seek another more honourable death for his service, and they take a dagger in their hands, and go out into the streets and kill as many persons as they meet, both men, women, and children, in such wise that they go like mad dogs, killing until they are killed. These are called Amuco. And as soon as they see them begin this work, they cry out, saying Amuco, in order that people may take care of themselves, and they kill them with dagger and spear thrusts.”—Barbosa, Hak. Soc. 194. This passage seems to show that the word amuk must have been commonly used in Malay before the arrival of the Portuguese there, c. 1511.