Ss HISTORY OF SANTUBONG, SARAWAK. 
have been drilled so badly from two opposite ends that the 
holes have crossed without coinciding. 
Another type of bead also made on the spot is produced 
from the iron slag which we mention later. The bead appears 
to have been formed by twisting the pasty slag round a 
wire. 
All the other kinds of beads may be of foreign origin but 
many are so crude that we think this improbable. Glass 
beads of various colours, yellow, red, and blue are numerous. 
Many of these are asymmetrical and peaked at one or both 
ends as if the plastic glass has been twisted spirally round a 
wire. The other glass beads are of better workmanship, 
a common shape being that of a biconvex dise with finely 
bevelled edges. : 
Another type, perhaps of European origin is cylindrical 
and presumably was made by cutting up glass tubing. Finally 
there are to be found here many small beads made of burnt 
clay coloured red by iron. Of this type we have seen several 
interesting specimens shewing the method of production. The 
clay was rubbed round a wire to give a length of tubing: this 
was pinched at short intervals producing a slender monilifoim 
tube which was baked as such. Afterwards the beads were 
made by breaking it at the constrictions. 
It seems very probable then that Santubong was once the 
scene of a bead making industry, but we are in complete 
ignorance respecting the makers. Natives of Sarawak have 
now no knowledge of such an art and beads of the type in 
question are not affected by Chinese. The red and yellow 
beads are often worn by poorer Milanos on their clothing and 
the few large and handsome beads are of the same type as is 
treasured by the Milanos: yet these were almost certainly 
never made by Milanos. 
It is well known that the better class beads of external 
origin have been much used for centuries and even up to the 
present time, as an object of barter amongst natives: modern 
beads thus used come mainly from Germany but who made 
the antique beads and who introduced them to Borneo no one 
knows. s 
Jour. Straits Branch 
