SUMATRA. 
his advcrfarjr by an oath, often defircs two or three days time, to get 
ready hh fwearing apparatus (fsmpatm)^ Some of thefc are looked 
upoD as more facred, and of greater efficacy than others. They confifl 
of an old rufty Ci'€ej\ a broken gun barrrf, or any ancient trumpery, to 
which chance or caprice has annexed an idea of extraordinary virtue. 
Thcfe they generally dip in water, which the perfon who fwcars^ drinks 
Loffj after having pronounced the form of words before mentioned.* 
The paniitati of Socngcy-lamo has by him certain copper bullets, which 
had been ilceped in water, drunk by tbc duun^cj emm ^hcQ they 
bound thcmfebes never to mokii his di{lri<fts ; /^ hich they have only 
done iince, as often as ihey could venture it with fafet} , from the relax- 
ation of our government. But thcfe were political oaths. The moft 
oidimry [GOfnpa fan is a creefe, and on the blade of this, they fometimes 
drop lime juice, jwhich occafions a ftain on the lips of the perfon perform- 
ing the ceremony ; a circumftance that may not improbably be fuppofed 
to make an imprcfiion on a weak and guilty mind. Such would fancy 
that the external flain conveyed to the beholders, an image of the inter- 
nal. At Manna the fcompaim moft refpefed is a gim barrel. When 
produced to be fworn on, it is carried to the fpot in ftatc, under an um^ 
brclli?, aii^i «»*ipt in lilk. This parade has an advantageous efTed, by 
inftueiKingthe mind of the party, with an high idea of the importance 
and folemnity of the bufinefs.j In England, the familiarity of the ob- 
ject, and the fummary method of adminiftering oaths, are well known 
to diniinilh from their weight, and to render them, too often nugatory. 
They fometimes fwear by the earth, laying their hands upon it, and 
wifhing that it may never produce aught for their nourilhment, if they 
fpeak falfely. In all thefe ceremonies, they burn on the fpot, a little gum 
benjamin i " Et amra thurh plena, poffltufque carho in Cffpite vivoj' 
It is a ftriking circumftance, that practices which boa ft fo Uttk of 
reafon in their foundation ; which are in fad fo whimfical an<J childiiii ; 
* The fomn of taking an oarh among the people of Mai^afcarf very nearly refemblfs the 
cereinoiiies ufcd by the Suinatrans. There \t a ftrong fimilaricy m tte ajtides they fwear on, 
. and in die cUcumitaficc of tlieir drinKjog tKe cgnf^mtcd waicn 
Olould 
