DOMESTIC MANUFACTURES. 91 



ornaments, sheaths for krises, &c.,) and for 

 exportation to other of the Malay islands, and 

 China. The teeth of the largest male Cachalots 

 bear an average value of two dollars each, those 

 of adult females, three dollars the dozen. The 

 surplus European commodities, received by the 

 natives on the coast, are rapidly absorbed by 

 the inland tribes, or by exportation to other 

 islands, not frequented by shipping. In return 

 for such exportations, the Soutranha people 

 receive slaves, and some kinds of cotton cloth, 

 superior in texture and pattern to any they can 

 themselves construct. 



Their domestic manufactures are chiefly 

 Cotton-cloth, mats, and fancy works, executed 

 with the split leaves of the fan-palm, and 

 prettily stained. Weaving cloth (the occupation 

 only of the women) is performed with the most 

 primitive simplicity. The loom is a mere wooden 

 frame, fastened at one extremity to the ground, 

 and at the opposite to the person of the operative; 

 the woof being passed across the warp by hand, 

 and beaten close with a thin lath, or " sword," 

 like the method employed in ships, to make 

 what is termed a " sword-mat." It is a tedious 

 labour; for a scarf, or lipa, cannot be com- 

 pleted with less than a week's diligent work. 

 The cloth, consequently, bears a proportionate 



