SUMATRA. 
Creefc of the jftiletto kind, for afTalHnation chiefly. The cmfe is afpecics of dagger j 
of a particular conftrufflion, worn by all defcriptions of people. The blade 
is fourteen inches in length, of fteel tempered in fuch a manner, as to 
have an uncommon degree of hardnefs. It is not fmooth or polifhed* 
like the blades of our weapons, but by a fingular procefs, made to ap- 
pear like a compofition, in which veins of a different metal feem to be 
vifible. it is formed, notflraight like a fword, nor uniformly curved, but 
waving in and out, as we fee depicted the £aming fwords that guarded 
the gartes of paradife. This probably renders a wound given with it the 
more fatal. The head or haft is commonly of ivory, or fine grained 
wood> ornamented with gold, or a compofition of that and Japan cop- 
per, called fomffoy poliflied, and curioufly carved into a figure that bears 
fome refemblance to the Egyptian Ifis ; having, like that fymbolic deity, 
the beak of a bird, with the arms of a human creature. The flieath is 
alfo made of fome beautiful fpecies of wood, hollowed out ; with neat 
folds of fpHt rattan, ftained red, round the lower part. The value of 
a creefe encreafes in proportion to the number of perfons it has llain. 
One that has been the in 11 rumen t of much bloodfhed, is regarded with 
a degree of veneration iia ionic tJiing /acrcc!. The horror or cnthufiafm, 
that the contemplation of fuch adtions infpires, is transferred to the in- 
flrument ; which accordingly acquires fan£tity, from the principle that 
leads ignorant men to reverence whatever pofTefles the power of effe^* 
ing mifchief. The abominable cuftom of poifoning weapons, though 
much talked of, (^e^ofo, it is termed) is rarely, I believe, if ever, put 
in practice by them in modern timeSj but it may have been prevalent 
formerly. 
Ranjsws are Iharp pointed flakes of hamhm^ of different lengths, 
ftuck into the ground, in order to penetrate the naked feet, or body, 
of an enemy, Thefe are made ufe of in cafes of flight, to anoy and re- 
tard the purfuers, and planted in the pathways, or among the long grafs, 
by the vanquiihed party, as they run. They are alfo djfpofed in the ap- 
proaches to fortified doofoons. In time of war, they always form part 
of the military ftore of each combatant ; and m/aws^ or lawlefs vaga- 
bonds. 
Other imi^- 
ments of war- 
fare. 
