MALACCA LACE* 275 



" Ikatan kipas " taking two bobbins. 



" Penyambut " taking two bobbins. 



"Prut Lintah" taking two bobbins. 



" Tali Ayer " taking two bobbins." 



" Kaki " taking two bobbins. 



The most common stitch in all their laces is the " Ikatan," 

 or fastening stitch. It does not resemble the torchon "half 

 stitch " or " whole stitch " but seems to be original. A more 

 elaborate form of it is called " Mata Punai," and is the only 

 stitch which has the same name as in the Palembang patterns 

 sent to me. The Malacca Malays use the word " renda " for all 

 lace except the narrow edgings which they call "biku." They 

 themselves never seem to have made wide edgings; all their 

 wide laces being insertions joined together for trouser borders. 

 They throw their bobbins across with incredible rapidity 

 using their second and third fingers to flick the bobbin 

 across more especially in making the "bars" or "prut lintah." 

 It is an art which cannot be acquired by everyone. As to 

 the origin and history of the industry I have been unable 

 to find out anything. Through the kindness and courtesy of 

 Mr. Spakler, Consul General for the Netherlands in Singa- 

 pore, I have obtained a pillow from Palembang, Sumatra, where 

 lace is also made by the Malays. This pillow is identical 

 with the Malacca one in structure and design only with a 

 drawer and more elaborately ornamented. The industry is a 

 flourishing one in Palembang where the Dutch ladies buy the 

 lace in quantities for their Kebayas (jackets) and it is sold in 

 lengths of 4-| yards for this purpose. The bobbins are also 

 identical, though slightly longer and up to one hundred are 

 employed. What is more interesting the common terms are 

 the same — "Bantal," " Buah," " Sepesel " but in addi- 

 tion they have the word " Papan " for insertion, and "renda " 

 is confined to wide (2), edgings which in Palembang are also 

 made by the natives. "Renda" is I believe, a Portuguese 

 word and is also used in Ceylon for lace, were I am told 

 the lace industry was undoubtedly founded by the 

 Portuguese. But again it may be native. If is impossible 

 now to say. A very curious pillow was shown to me by Mr. 



E A. Soc, No 45, 1905.) 



