58 THE LONG-JOINTED BAMBOO FOR BLOW-PIPES. 
This bamboo 1s figured in Hooker’s /cones Plantarum, Vol. III. of 
the fourth series, Part III., May, 1893, plate 2253. In general appearance 
it is very similar to Lu/oh aker, only it is a much smaller plant. 
The bamboo used by the Sakais of the south of Kinta, Batang 
Padang and Slim, although known by the same native name, is quite a 
different species. It does not appear to have been as yet identified, 
though it has probably long since been described. The longest joints 
are about four feet, and two of them are required to form one blow-pipe. 
The joint which occurs in the centre is pierced by a stick made out 
of the leaf-stalk of a rattan. This is extremely hard, and the joint can 
be quite cut out by it. The inside is then smoothed by pulling pieces 
of the hard root already mentioned through it. The inner tube 1s made 
of either two or three lengths of small diameter bamboo, joined together 
in the manner already described. The blow-pipes are generally exten- 
sively ornamented, sometimes throughout their whole length. Occa- 
sionally it will be found, on taking them to pieces, that even the inner 
tube has had patterns cut on it. This shows an amount of thoroughness 
that would scarcely be expected in the work of mere savages. 
