906 REPORT — 1900. 



5. Notes on Malay Metal-ivork. By Walter Rosenhain, B.A., St. John's 

 College, Cambridge ; 1851 Exhibition Commissioners' Research Scholar, 

 University of Melbourne. 



The paper dealt with some specimens of Malay metal-work submitted to the 

 author for microscopic and other examination hj Mr. W. W. Skeat. Some 

 Malay processes actually witnessed by Mr. Skeat were described, and the bearings 

 of the microscopic examination on the explanations of these processes are 

 discussed. 



The first question dealt with is the production of the 'damask' pattern on a 

 Malay kris. Microphotographs were given showing that the ' damask iron ' really 

 consists of layers of loosely welded wrought iron, the only other metal used being 

 tool steel. The body of the blade is made of steel, and a layer of laminated 

 'damask iron' is welded upon either side of the central layer of steel; a thin 

 layer of steel is welded on outside the ' damask iron.' The author believes that 

 the striated ' damask ' effect is due to the opening of the loose welds in the damask 

 iron during the forging of the blade, steel being driven between the laminae. The 

 outside layer of steel is entirely ground away, and when the compound surface so 

 produced is ' etched ' by the pickling process employed, the more readily corroded 

 steel is attacked, leaving the edges of the layers of iron as a series of narrow 

 projecting ridges. 



The tools of the Malay goldsmith were next described, and the micro-structure 

 and composition of Malay bronzes and ' white metal ' were described and discussed. 



The final section of the paper dealt with the Malay method of producing chains 

 by casting. 



6. I^ote on the ^Kingfisher' Kriss. By Professor Henry Louis, M.A. 



This note describes a peculiar pattern of kriss used in a limited area in the 

 north-east of the Malay Peninsula. The Malay legend of its origin is that a 

 party of Malays from the Bugis islands invaded this portion of the peninsula 

 many centuries ago ; one of their leaders was known as ' the Kingfisher ' (pre- 

 sumably on account of his rapid movements). The invasion was successful, but 

 the leader fell in one of the last engagements. After his death his followers 

 carved their kriss handles into shapes resembling the kingfisher's head and beak. 

 Under Chinese influence the pattern became more ornate, until it reached the 

 present fixed type. 



The writer discovered in a pawnshop in Bangkok an earlier form of this type 

 (possibly the only one extant) : this kriss seems to have been sold by a Malay 

 from this region, many of whom are well known to have been deported by the 

 Siamese between the years 1790 and 1820. Colonies of their descendants still 

 exist in Siam, and have been visited by the writer. The early type of ' King- 

 fisher ' kriss is much more like the bird's head than the modern pattern, which is, 

 however, now the only one seen among or known to the Malays. The region in 

 question has rarely been visited by Europeans. 



7. On some Buddhist Sites. By W. Laav Bros. 



The author exhibited a photograph of the temple erected on the spot where 

 Buddha ' meditated.' A sample of the sacred ' Bo ' tree was also shown. The 

 delicate carvings in these temples were exhibited and explained. What was 

 described as the ' Tope ' was a characteristic development in Buddhist sacred 

 buildings, and sometimes these were treated with elaborate ornamentation. In 

 addition to the sites a series of views showing the rock-caverns which enter so 

 largely into Buddhist religious life were exhibited. These rock-caves contain 

 specimens of the earliest Buddhist sculptures known. The author also showed 

 ■views of a number of Jain temples which were among the most richly elaborate in 

 ornamentation of all Indian sanctuaries, and also views of side-chapels and cloisters 

 belonging to these temples, in nearly all of which the cross-legged figure of the 

 Buddha was fquud., 



