332 



ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Malay Peninsula* 



down from the country for sale in large cakes, called tompongs, covered with 

 mats ; and these, as a staple commodity, are employed in dealings as a 

 standard of value, to which the price of other things has reference, as in 

 most parts of the world, to certain metals. In order to pack it in chests, it 

 is necessary to soften the coarser parts with boiling water ; for the finer, it 

 is sufficient to expose it to the heat of the sun. 



Benjamin, for the home market, should be chosen full of clear, light 

 coloured, and white spots, having the appearance of white marble when 

 broken ; it is seldom to be met with in so pure a state, therefore the nearer 

 it approaches to it, the better. If it is of a brownish colour, it should be 

 clear and pure, and when broken, appear somewhat like rosin, and as free 

 from dirt and other impurities as possible : it has very little taste, impressing 

 on the palate only a slight sweetness ; when rubbed or heated, it is ex- 

 tremely agreeable, and when set on fire, it diffuses a fragrant smell. Freight, 

 20 Cwt. to a ton. 



Birds' Nests are much celebrated as a pecuh'ar luxury of the table, 

 especially amongst the Chinese ; they are found in caves on the sea-coast of 

 Sumatra, more particularly towards its S. extremity, on the Island of Java, 

 and on many of the Eastern Islands. The bird which constructs them, 

 resembles the swallow. The nests differ from each other in size, thickness, 

 colour, and weight ; their diameter is commonly three fingers in breadth at 

 the top, and their perpendicular depth in the middle seldom exceeds an 

 inch. The substance of these nests is white, inclining to red, somewhat 

 transparent ; their thickness is little more than that of a silver spoon, and 

 their weight is from a quarter to half an ounce. They are very brittle, and 

 have a shining gummy appearance internally, when broken, and are 

 wrinkled, or slightly furrowed, on the surface. They are of three denomi- 

 nations, viz. 



Head. — The cleanest and best are almost as white as writing paper* 

 and as transparent as isinglass, having only a few downy feathers hanging 

 about them. This is the kind which suits the China market, and is the 

 only sort \*hich should be taken. In purchasing them, be careful that they 

 are perfectly dry ; if so crisp as to break, the better, because they then weigh 

 light ; they are frequently damped to make them heavy, and are then tough 

 and pliable. They are generally packed one with another, to the length of 

 12 or 15 inches, and secured with split rattans, to prevent their breaking. 

 Always open the bundles before you weigh them, or you will have a good 

 deal of dirt amongst them. 



Belly. — These are of a darker colour, yellowish, but clear of dirt, and 

 may with pains be made nearly equal to the head, by picking out the 



