SUMATRA* 
H3 
Arts and Manufailures.—Art of Medicine,— Sciences.-^Aiithmstk: 
Geography: Afirommy : Mufic^ 
I SHALL now take a view of thofe arts and manufactures which the 
Sumatrans are fkilkd in» and which are not merely domeftic, but con- j^^^ 
tributing rather to the conveniences, and in fome inftances to the lux- 
uries, than to the neceflaries of life, I muft remind the reader that my 
obfervations on this fubjed, are moftly drawn from the Rejangs^ or thofe 
people of the iilandj who are upon their level of improvement. We 
meet with accounts m old writers, of great founderies of cannon in the 
dominion of Acheen^ and it is certain j that 6re arms, as well as creefes, 
are at this day manufa<fhjred in the country of Menangcahow ; but my 
prefent defer ipt ion does not go to thofe fuperior exertions of art, which 
certainly do not appear among thofe people of the ifland vvhofe manners, 
more efpecially, I am attempting to delineate. What follows would feem 
an exception, howev^er, from this limitation. There is no manufacture ia 
that part of the world; and perhaps I might be j\iftified in faying, in any 
part of the world; that has been more admired and celebrated, than the 
fine gold and filver fillagree of Sumatra. This however is, ftrictly fpeak- 
ing, the work of the Malay, and not of the original inhabitants ; but as it 
is in univerfal ufe and wear throughout the country, and as the goldimiths 
are feiUed every where along the coaft, I cannot be guilty of much ir- 
regularity in defcribing here the procefs of their art* 
There is no circumftance that renders the fillagree a matter of greater 
curiofity, than the coarfcnefs of the tools employed in the wdrkmanfhip, 
and which, in the hands of an European, wo\ild not be thought fuffi- 
ciently perfect for the moft ordinary purpofes. They are rudely and in- 
artificially formed^ by the goldfmith (pandi)^ from any old iron he can 
pick up. When you engage one of them to execute a piece of worJ^ 
his iirft requeft is ufually for a piece of iron hoop, to make his wire- 
drawing inftrument ; an old hammer head, ftuck in a block, ferves for 
O o aa 
