784 



ANNUAL REGISTER, 1805. 



ner circle ; and acjain, within them, 

 all the young men and girls. In this 

 manner they dance till about twelve 

 o'clock, when they take their sup. 

 pcrs on the ground where they had 

 danced, the place being illuminated 

 by a large tire, and if it is not windy, 

 also by copper or brass lamps. — 

 After supper they return to dancing 

 for a sliort time, and soon after, all 

 hands fall to stripping the tree of the 

 rice ; and w hen the scramble is over, 

 which is the principal part of the di- 

 version, the feast is finished. 



At the Dungally feasts I got a 

 very good share; but at the harvest 

 feast at Travalla, where I saw them 

 dress np a tree with Indian corn in 

 ihe same manner as they employed 

 the rice at Dungally, they gave us 

 nothing. 



When the rajah is ill, or going a 

 journey, he sends to the priest for a 

 hill of health ; this is drawn on a 

 bit of paper, about eight inches 

 square, for which he receives a 

 handsome present. It is not granted 

 tor. a longer time than six months, 

 and Mhen presented to the rajah, it 

 is closed up, and not opened until 

 the time is expired.. If he have any 

 inclination for another bill of health, 

 it is granted for six months more. 



The Malays set a great value on 

 all coined mone}'. They keej) it in 

 store, and do not part with it. even 

 when they want to purchase every 

 thing. Their chief trade is for gold 

 dust and barter. — The children, 

 where it can be afibrded, m ear dol- 

 lars strung round their necks, with 

 holes through them. 



A man possessed of a swivel or 

 great gun, is reckoned a great man, 

 and is much valued and respected. 

 When he returns from a voyage, he 

 ^kes it to his house, and is so care- 



ful of it that he frequently places it 

 in his bedchamber. 



The natives, when they buy cloth, 

 measure it by the fathom, which is 

 done by their arms stretched out, 

 and measuring from finger to finger. 

 I have often observed their hands as 

 far behind them as possible, in order 

 to make a longer fathom. 



The Malays manufacture very 

 good and strong c'loth with arigcd 

 colours. Their cotton is remarkably 

 fine and well picked, and they clear 

 it by a kind of jenny. They under- 

 stand the art of dying, and are very 

 fond of gaudy colours. 



Their proas are from about five 

 to thirty tons in size, are sharp at 

 both ends, and much resemble our 

 whale-boats. At the after part of 

 the proa, they build a kind of house 

 or cabin. They use wooden anchors, 

 which are large and strong. Their 

 cables are made of braided rattan, 

 M'hich arc strong, but not very pli- 

 able. Their .sails are peculiarly light 

 and strong, and made from the skin 

 of a certain leaf, which is cured in 

 the sun. knotted together, and wo- 

 ven. The rope for the sail is made 

 from the bark of a tree, and is plir 

 able and strong, but not equal to 

 what the sails are made of. The 

 proas arc constructed for rowing as 

 well as sailing; are used for fishing, 

 trading, carrying provisions, or for 

 privateering, and are fitted-out and 

 managed accordingly. The proa be- 

 longs to the captain, and, if a mer- 

 chantman, is managed with about 

 twelve hands, which consist of the 

 captain, who is called an accuicler ; 

 the mate, j ere 7}2ode ; the boatswain, 

 Jerc bottoo ; and nine sailors, ourari. 

 The men have no wages, bring their 

 own provisions, and divide their 



earnings. 



The 



