Amuck (Javanese, amoak, to kill). The running amuck is a Malay custom. The natives by a long-continued and excessive use of opium at length have their features sharpened, their skin drawn over their bones like parchment, and become entirely and ferociously mad. Armed with their formidable creese or dirk-knife, they rush in frenzy from their houses, sometimes naked, and leaping along the crowded streets, stab, bite, and curse every one who chances to be in their path. As soon as a person is seen in this state everybody in terror proclaims the news, and the cry of "Amuck" rouses the population like the cry of "Fire" or "Mad dog" in western cities. Every man snatches the first weapon that comes to hand, and follows the path of the common enemy. Long spears are, however, the favorite and more common weapon, and with these they pen the wretched maniac into a corner, and lance him to death as they would a tiger. Scores of persons are sometimes killed by one of these madmen before he can be checked.