432 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



sisted of a flat stone for an anvil, a hammer, and two 

 or three large, blunt awls. Ha\dng beaten the gold 

 out into thin sheets of the desired form, he made the 

 leaves rise in relief by forming a corresponding groove 

 on the opJDOsite or inner side. In other cases he had 

 formed the gold into small wire, which was bent into 

 helices for ornaments to be placed on the front of such 

 articles as buttons. At Fort de Kock this business 

 is carried on so extensively as to fonn an imj^ortant 

 branch of the internal trade. The metal generally 

 used there is silver, the coin imported by the Dutch, 

 for we have no reason to suppose that that metal is 

 found on this island. They make models of their 

 houses, of leaves, flowers, and all the princij^al fruits, 

 which are sent to Padang, where they And a ready 

 demand among the foreigners, who send them as pres- 

 ents to their friends in Europe. 



We have just been honored by a call fi'om the 

 two rajahs of this little village of Lumut. The bands 

 of gold on their jackets Avere two inches broad — an 

 indication that the precious metal must be obtained 

 in all this region in very considerable quantities. 

 Ever since entering the southern end of the valley 

 of Mandeling, I have been repeatedly informed 

 that the natives obtained gold by washing in their 

 vicinity. At Foil; Elout the Resident showed 

 me a nugget, as large as a pigeon's egg, which a na- 

 tive had just found in a neighboring stream where 

 they had certainly been at work for centuries. 

 "Washing seems to be almost the only mode adopted 

 by the natives for obtaining gold, and I heard of only 

 one place where they have ever attempted to take it 



