58 EDIBLE SWALLOW NESTS. 



customed to this employment, never undertake their 

 labour till they have slaughtered a buffalo, as a pro- 

 pitiatory sacrifice, which is the usual preparation 

 made by the Javanese for all their undertakings. 

 On such occasions they mutter over a few prayers, 

 anoint themselves with aromatic oils, and fumigate 

 the holes with sweet smelling substances, which they 

 conceive to be charms against accident. 



At the chief of these caverns, in the island of 

 Java, a protecting female deity is worshipped, under 

 the name of Princess of the Southern Sea. A small 

 hut, with a covered sleeping-place, is there appro- 

 priated for her, together with various elegant articles 

 of dress, which none under the rank of a princess 

 can wear; and every Friday, when the nests are 

 taken down, incense is continually burnt, and the 

 body and clothes of every one who intends to ascend 

 the rocks must be exposed to it. To afford them 

 light in the cavern, they use torches made of the 

 resinous gum of a large tree. 



The collecting of these nests continues no longer 

 than a month, and, as already mentioned, may be 

 repeated three times in the year. Some believe that 

 it may be done a fourth time; but this is not pro- 

 bable, as all experienced people brought up to this 

 employment confidently assert, that a nest, as long 

 as it remains entire, is continually enlarged by the 

 bird, or made thicker, until it is entirely deserted by 

 her, when it becomes dry or hairy in the inside. 

 When the nests have been collected, no further trouble 

 is necessary than to dry and clean them; after which 

 they are put in baskets, and sold to the Chinese. 

 The price of them depends on their whiteness and 



