ORIENTAL COMMERCE. [Malay Peninsula. 



shining yellow colour, and well veined externally, but more inclined to white 

 within, and of a highly resinous quality ; it should have an agreeable fra- 

 grant smell, and a bitter aromatic taste, and be of a sufficient soilness to 

 receive an impression from the teeth or nails. The true calambac is gene- 

 rally in Hut bits; and its goodness is tried by putting a small piece into the 

 fire; if it seems to melt like wax, and emits an agreeable fragrance while 

 burning (which should continue till it is wholly consumed), the wood is 

 considered of a good quality. 



Missov Bark is generally brought from the Aroo Islands and New 

 Guinea ; it is almost flat, of an obscure yellow colour, covered with a greyish 

 outer bark, of a sweet smell and taste, mixed with the flavour of cin- 

 namon. 



Rattans {Calamus Rotmig) are produced in Sumatra, the Malay 

 Peninsula, and several of the Eastern islands, and great quantities are an- 

 nually carried to China, which is the principal market for them. For cane- 

 work, they should be chosen long, of a bright pale yeliovv colour, well glazed, 

 and of a small size, not brittle, or subject to break. They are purchased by 

 the bundle, which ought to contain 100 rattans, neatly tied in the middle, 

 the ends bent together. In China they are sold by the \iecu], which contains 

 from 9 to IS bundles : it is therefore necessary to examine the average 

 weight of the bundles, as they are frequently considerably reduced in size. 

 Such as are black or dark-coloured, that snap short, or the glazing of which 

 flies off on their being bent, should be rejected. When used as dunnage, 

 they are generally allowed to pass free of freight. — The ton is b'OOO canes. 



Rattans, Ground, should be chosen in long joints, at least 9 inches, 

 tapered, heavy, and well-glazed. Those with the roots are most esteemed ; 

 but as such cannot be procured without paying an extra price, care should 

 be taken to have them of sufficient length to make two, three, or four sticks, 

 each 38 to 4& inches long. Such as are dark-coloured, short jointed, badly 

 glazed, or decayed, should be rejected. 



Sago, {Sahudttna, Hind.) is the produce of several trees, chielly a 

 species of palm, {Saguenus) growing in the Moluccas and the neighbour- 

 ing islands. The tree, when at maturity, is 30 or 40 feet high, and consists 

 of nothing but a spongy and mealy substance, somewhat resembling the 

 pith of an elder-tree, surrounded by a hard bark of about half an inch thick. 

 When felled, the sago is loosened from the bark, and reduced to the appear- 

 ance of saw-dust. The filaments are separated by washing ; the meal is laid 

 to dry, and afterwards made into cakes about 3 inches long, 2 broad, and 

 half an inch thick ; it is then baked till it becomes dry and hard, and forms 

 jhe principal article of food in the Eastern islands. The finest part of the 



