IN SARAWAK. 139 



are only taught to give it in reading the proper into- 

 nation, and to repeat its precepts in the singing, chant- 

 ing method supposed to be practised in the temple of 

 Mecca. The great use of their learning to read the Ko- 

 ran at all is, that by using a chapter of it they pretend 

 to be able to drive away the spirit which is supposed 

 to possess an insane person, or one in a fit. The different 

 periods of the progress of the sons' advancement in edu- 

 cational knowledge afford the parents an opportunity 

 of giving feasts to their relations, when the son is exa- 

 mined by the master in the presence of his family and 

 connexions, who, in consideration of the liberal and 

 expensive feast usually provided for them, congratulate 

 the father on the splendid talents of the son ; at these 

 entertainments the principal part of the feast consists 

 of rice, fish, and fowls. The rice is brought up in large 

 dishes, some of which contain the grain coloured, and 

 disposed in fanciful combinations. The dishes are 

 also garnished with sweet-scented flowers ; the fish 

 and fowls are curried with vegetables, and in the 

 number of different flavours given to these two articles 

 consists the principal secret of their cookery. They 

 have so many of them, some of which are, however, 

 only to be distinguished by the nicest palate, that I 

 cannot give their numbers, nor is it probable that they 

 themselves know. The Malayan curries, when made 

 by the natives, have a flavour which is frequently pre- 

 ferred to those made by the natives of Madras, into 

 the composition of which, I believe, the cocoa-nut, so 

 liberally employed by the Malays, does not enter. 



