with a closely packed mass of coloured beads. It is probable that this 

 shows Chinese infliience, and it is not bv any means an improvement 

 on the plain gold ; particularly as in many cases the choice of colours 

 is apt to be anything but haj^py. Filling is also done with silver 

 thread, which is much more harmonious. 



When completed the result is a raised design in gold, on a founda- 

 tion of some dark-coloured velvet or cloth, usually red, green or purple. 

 Of the square mats the whole central portion of the upper one is 

 generally embroidered in this method, Avhile the edges of the top fold 

 and of the lower ones are covered with some figured clotli of a 

 different colour for each fold. It may be mentioned that these mats 

 are made somewhat like the conical bellows of a photographic camera, 

 with sometimes as jnany as six folds, each one being smaller than the 

 one below it. The better class sleeping and praying mats are also 

 made after this fashion, but usually have only two folds. In these 

 long mats the portions that ai*e ornamented by suji timha are the head 

 piece and a row on either side of moi'e or less triangular- shaped pieces. 

 These are worked separately and then cut out and sewn on in their 

 proper places. The centre of the mat, to the edges of which these 

 pieces of embroidery are applied, is most effective Avhen of plain or 

 watered silk, but the Malays often use figured silk with not such good 

 results ; at any rate, from a European's art point of view. Th^ bag 

 at one end of a praying mat, which contains the praying staff, is also 

 extensively embroidered. 



Pillow-ends of circular, octagonal or rectangular shapes, and also 

 bags, shoes and purses are frequently enriched with ^uji timha. 



TWO RUBBER PESTS. 



By L. WRAY. 



Q OME years ago a large number of caterpillars appeared on the Para 

 '^ rubber trees at the Grovernment Plantations at Pondok Tanjong, 

 and did very considerable damage by defoliating the trees. Some of 

 the caterpillars were sent to me, and I endeavoured to rear them, 

 but they all died in a few days' time : apparently because they had 

 had rough treatment before reaching the Museiuii. 



The second outlireak of this same pest was in the early part of 

 this present year at Gapis Estate, Padang Rengas, belonging to 

 the Kuala Kangsar Plantations Company. Here again very marked 

 damage was done to some twenty acres of young trees. Four of 

 the caterpillars were sent to me in a tobacco tin, which had had some 

 holes punched through it with a nail, the rough jagged edges of 

 the tin projecting inwards. It is, perhaps, hardly necessary to state 

 that they all died a few hours after arrival. Although I was promised 

 more of the insects, thev have never been sent. 



