398 AN ACCOUNT OF THL 



To prevent riot and diforder, an officer with a 

 party of Malays is itationed here. They occupy a 

 large fquare, where they have a field piece and a flag 

 itarf for iignals. 



Here and there you meet with brokers, jewellers, 

 and merchants of all defcriptions ; alio, futtlers offering 

 proviiions and other articles to gratify the fcnfual ap- 

 petite and luxury. But by far the greater number 

 are occupied with the pearls. Some are bafely em- 

 ployed in aborting them; for which purpofe they make 

 ufe of fmall brafs plates perforated with holes of dif- 

 ferent fizes ; others are weighing and offering them to 

 the purchafer ; while others are drilling or boring 

 them ; which they perform for a trifle. 



The inftrument, the/e people carry about with 

 them for this purpofe, is of a very fimple conftru&ion, 

 but requires much ikill and exercife to ufe it ; it is 

 made in the following manner : the principal part 

 confifts of a piece of foft wood, of an obtufe, inverted, 

 conical fhape, about lix inches high and four in dia- 

 meter in its plain furface ; this is fupported by three 

 wooden feet, each of which is more than a foot in 

 length. Upon the upper flat part of this machine 

 .are holes, or pits, for the larger pearls, and the fmaller 

 ones are beat in with a wooden hammer. On the 

 right fide of this ftool, half a cocoa nut fhell is fattened, 

 which is filled with water. The drilling inftruments 

 are iron fpindles, of various fizes, adapted to the dif- 

 ferent dimenfions of the pearls, which are turned 

 round in a wooden head by a bow. The pearls being 

 olaced on the rlat furface of the inverted cone, as al- 

 ready mentioned, the operator fitting on a mat, 

 preffes on the wooden head of his inftrument with the 

 left hand, while, with his right, he moves the bow 

 which turns round the moveable part of the drill ; at 

 the fame time, he moiftens the pearl, qccafionally 



dippii 



