SUMATRA. 149 
drops as \it comes over. AloDg with the benjamm they put into the 
retortj a mixture of Tagar cane and other articles, that contribute little 
or nothing to the quantity or quality of the diftillationj but no liquid 
is added. This empyreumatic oil is valued among them at a high price, 
and can only be ufed by the fuperior rank of people. 
The oil in general ufe Is that of the coconut, which is procured in the oil, 
following manner. The flefhy part being fcrapcd out of the nut, which for 
this ufe muil be old, is expo fed for fome time to the heat of the fun. It 
is then put into a mat bag, and placed in the prefs (campauhm) between 
two iloping timbers, which are fixed together in a focket in the lower 
part of the frame, and forced towards each other by wedges in 3 groove 
at top, compreffing, by this means, the pulp of the nut, which yields an 
oil, that falls into a trough made for its reception below* In the farther 
pans of the country, this oil alfo, owing to the fcarcity of coconuts, is 
dear, and not fo much ufed for burning as the dammar or rofin, which ts 
always at hand. When travelling at night they make ufe of torches or Torches, 
links, called Jop/otf, the common fort of which are nothing more than 
dried bamboos of a convenient length, beaten at the joints, till fpltt in 
every part ; without the addition of any refinous or other inflammable 
fubftance. A fuperior kind is made by filling with dammar a 3'oung 
bambooj about a cubit long^well dried, and the outer ikin taken oC 
Thcfe torches are carried with a view, chieHy, to frighten away the 
tiger which are alarmed at the appearance of fire ; and for the fame the^d^^i^^ 
reafon it is common to make a blaze with wood, in different parts round 
their villages. The tigers prove to the inhabitants, both in their jour- 
neys and even their domeftic occupations, moft fatal and deftrudtive 
enemies. The number of people annually ilain by thefe rapacious ty- 
rants of the woods, is almofl incredible. I have known inftanccs of whole ^ * 
villages being depopulated by them-. Yet, from a fuperftitious pre- 
judice, it is with difficulty they are prevailed upon, by a large reward 
which the India Company offers, to ufe methods of deftroying them ; 
till they have fuHained fome particular injury in their own family or kinl 
dred* 
