MATERIAL CONDITIONS 



59 



and for containing food in course of preparation 



(Fig. 5). 



The mats are of many shapes and sizes. The 

 largest are spread on the raised part of the floor, 

 both of the gallery and of the private chambers, 

 when a party sits down to eat or converse. Each 

 individual has his own sleeping mat, and each 

 family has a number of mats used for drying, husk- 

 ing, winnowing, and sieving xh^ padi. 



The bamboo water- vessel consists of a section 

 of the stem of the bamboo, closed at the lower end 

 by the natural septum, the upper end having a lip 



Fig. 6. 



or spout formed at the level of the succeeding 

 septum. A short length of a branch remains 

 projecting downwards to form a handle, by means 

 of which the vessel can be conveniently suspended. 

 These vessels are used also for carrying rice-spirit 

 or borak ; but this is stored in large jars of earthen- 

 ware or china. The native jar of earthenware is 

 ovoid in shape and holds about one gallon, but 

 these are now largely superseded by jars made 

 by the Chinese. 



Each family possesses some dishes and platters 

 of hardwood (Figs. 6 and 7), and generally a few 

 china plates bought from traders ; but a large leaf 

 is the plate most commonly used. 



