SUMATRA, 
and To attributes his occafional difappointments to the particular inter- 
pofition of the deity. Tht cunning-men, who, in this and many other 
in (knees of conjuration, impofe on the fxmple country people, are al- 
ways Malay adventurers. 
When the periodical rains begin to fall, which happens gradually 
about September or October, they proceed to few the grain. Ploughs 
are rarely ufed, and only in the open p!ain% when cultivated, in coun- 
tries, where the old woods are comparatively fcarce. In the grounds I 
am defcribing, the flumps of the trees would utterly preclude the pof- 
iibiUty of working them. The hufbandman enters the plantation; as it 
is ufual to call the paddee field ; with a iharp flake in each hand, and 
with thefe makes holes on either fide of him, at equal diflances, as he 
proceeds. Another perfon follows him with the feed, of which he 
drops a few grains into each hole; leaving it to accident, or the winds 
and rain, to cover it. The birds, as may be expeded^ often prove dif- 
tru(5tive foes, and in a plantation far removed from any other^ they have 
been known to devour the whole. The above is alj the labour tliat a 
laddang requires, till the harveft tiiiic, which is eftimatcd at five 
months and ten days from the period of fovvlng* 
The preparation of the Sa'woor^ or low ground plantations, is as 
follows. After clearing away the brufh wood, and aquatic fhrubs, 
with which the fwamps and marfhes, when negle(^l:ed, are overun, a 
number of buffaloes, whofe greateft .enjoyment con fills in wading and 
roHiug in mud, are turned in* Thefe work it up by their motions, 
and enrich it with their dung* TJie next care is to, level it well, that 
the water, when introduced, may lie equally on all the part^ Fof 
this pur^wfe, in fome diftri«3:s of the country, they contrive to drag 
about on the furface, aflat board with. earth on it, to deprefs theiafing 
fpots, and fill up the hollow ones. The whole is then divided by pa- 
rallel dams, by means of which the water is retained, or let off at plea* 
(urc, Thefe divifions or plats., are called puring^ which fignifies a.diili^ 
WhUflk 
