SUMATRA. 
drained from the vtk of opium, are apt to have recourle to this liquor, 
but among the country people inebriation Isperfe^Iy rare. 
Salt is here, as in moft other countries, an article of general confump- ^^^^^ 
tion. The demand for it is moftly fuppHed by cargoes imported, but 
they alfo manufadure it themfelves.* The method is tedious. They 
kindle a lire clofe to the fca beach, and pour upon it fea water, by de- 
grees* When this has been continued for a certain time the water eva- 
porating, and the fait being precipitated among the aflies, they gather 
thefe in baikets, or in funnels made of the bark or leaves of trees, and 
again pour fea water on them, till the particles of fa k are well teparated, 
and pafs, with the water, into a veflcl placed below to receive them. 
This water, now flrongly impregnated, is boiled till the fait adheres in a 
thick cruft to the bottom and lides of the veffeh In burning a fquaFc 
fathom of firewood, a ft.Uful perfon procures about five gallons of fait. 
What is thus made, has fo confiderable a mixture of the fak of the wood, 
that it foon difiblves, and cannot be carried far into the country. The 
coarfe ft grain is preferred. . * 
The art of medicine, among the Sumatrans, confifts almoft entirely of rtMim 
. . cine, 
in the application ot fimples, m the virtues of which they are furpnz- 
ingly ikilled. Every old man and woman is»a phyCcian; their rewards 
depending upon their fuccefs ; but they generally procure a fmall fum m 
advance, under the pretext of purchafing charms +. The mode of prac- 
tice 
In one of the eaflicft letters from Bcncoolen, lo the Prcfidcncy of Madraifsj it ii^mcDtioned 
that Salt could not be diJ'pofcd of as am article of trade. 
^ 'Channa are there worn about tbe necks of dulArcn,. as in Europe. I know not what they 
are compofed of, dot is it of much eonfequencej being merely impofitions of the Maky priefis. 
A charm ag inft an ague I once accidentally met with, whith from circumHances f conclude to be 
3 tranflatioa of fuch as are employed bv the PoiTuguefe Chrtflians in India. Though not pro- 
perly belonging to my fubje£t, I will prefcDC it to the reader, (Sign of the erofs). When 
Chrift faw the erofs, he trembled and Jhaked j and they faid unto him, haft ihou atj ague ? and 
he faid unto them, f have neither ague nor fever j and whofoevcr bear* ihele words, cither ill 
writing or in mindf Ihall never be troubled with ague or fever. So help thy ferriuats^ O Lord^ 
who 
