TEETH BLACKING AMONGST THE MALAYS. 37 



A fire is made up aud tlie upper end of a stick is thrust 

 into the hot ashes and allowed to remain for a few minutes. It 

 is then drawn out and held in a slanting position with the 

 burning end downwaixls. An assistant holds a piece of cold 

 iron in a slanting position beneath the stick, so that the jet of 

 smoke which issues from the pith -hole impinges on it. Under 

 the lower point of the iron is placed a shell to catch the "baja" 

 as it runs down from the iron. From time to time as the stick 

 burns the charred lower end is broken off, and if it stops burning 

 properly it is again thrust into the fire. The yield of " baja " is 

 not nearly so great as with coconut shell, and it is difiieult to keep 

 the sticks burning properly so that the jet of smoke does not 

 break out at the side, catch fire, and so become lost. When the 

 iron gets hot, as it soon does, it must be cooled by dipping into 

 water or otherwise, or it will not condense the smoke. The iron 

 used may be of any shape, but a piece fashioned something like 

 the blade of a "wall" or rattan knife mounted in a wooden 

 handle would appear to be the correct form. It should be thick 

 so as to be capable of absorbing a considerable amount of heat 

 before it is raised to such a temperature that it ceases to operate. 



In burning any of the sticks which yield "baja" they must 

 be burned from the top end. If the butt end is burned first the 

 operator will meet with his death by being speared. This, at 

 least, is what the Malays say. 



The fluid obtained by either of these processes is a fairly 

 liquid, heavy, black, or rather dark brown oil, smelling strongly 

 of creasote ; in fact it is a wood -tar containing a considerable 

 amount of acetic acid. That obtained from the sticks is thicker 

 than the other, and is ready for use as soon as it is made. That 

 from the coconut shell on the other hand requires to be cooked 

 at a low heat over the fire until it is thicker in consistency, 

 when it is fit for application. The method of applying it to the 

 teeth is to take a small quantity of the " baja " and put it on to a 

 cold iron plate, then add a little of the white ash of the nipah 

 leaf (Mpa fruticans). Well mix the tAVO together until it is 

 quite smooth, then with the tip of the third finger of the right 

 hand it is to be rubbed on to the teeth. The third finger or 

 "jari manis" only is to be used, though no reason is assigned 

 for this except that it is the custom. It is usual to black the 

 teeth two or three days after they have been filed, or as soon as 

 the swelling and soreness of the gums has subsided. The teeth 

 are well cleaned by rubbing with water and the fingers, they are 

 then dried and the " baja " applied in the manner befoi-e men- 

 tioned. When it is dry the patient chews " sirih," which helps 

 the blackening process. From three to a dozen coats are put 



