MANUFACTURE. 159 



by the blacksmiths are formed of two wooden or 

 bamboo cylinders, with pipes leading from the bottom 

 of them into the fire ; the wind is forced through these 

 pipes by two stout sticks, to which are attached large 

 bunches of feathers. These are worked, alternately, 

 by a boy seated high enough for the purpose, and 

 throw a strong and constant stream of wind into the 

 fire. Their fuel is charcoal ; even where coal is found 

 the natives never use it. The skill of the blacksmiths, 

 which is considerable, is principally exhibited in 

 making their instruments of carpenters' work and 

 weapons, and a person skilful in the manufacture of 

 the kris and spear can always obtain abundance of 

 employment. The adze and axe of their own manu- 

 facture are preferred to those sent from. England, 

 which are frequently of a very inferior quality. None 

 of the smiths have attained sufficient skill to be able 

 to make a musket, though these, and large guns, have 

 been made in former times in the capital. The Bugis 

 people of Celebes prefer their own clumsy rifles, which 

 are fitted with locks from Singapore, to the finer ones 

 from Europe. These people practise rifle shooting 

 much, and have generally been found in Singapore equal 

 to Europeans who supposed themselves skilful in 

 shooting at a mark at long distances. 



Brass, though the manufacture of it was formerly 

 extensively practised in Borneo, is now only worked, 

 and to a very small extent, by a few artisans from 

 Java. They make dishes, cooking-pots, and other 

 utensils of it, but not in nearly sufficient quantities to 

 supply the demand for these articles, large quantities 



