SUMATRA. 
Eftjmate by Having no coin, all value is eftimated among them by certain com- 
i^dof Goifl, modities. In trade they cal collate by tampangs (cakes) of benjamin; ia 
tranfa€tions amongft themfelves, more commonly by buflf^ilocs ; fome- 
times brafs wire, and fometimcs beads are ufed as a medium* A gal* 
km, or ring of brafs wire^ reprefents about the value of a dollar. But 
for fmall paymentSj fait is the moft in ufe. A meafure called a ftkep^ 
weighing about twopounds^ is equal to a fanamoT two pence halfpenny ; 
a halkej another fhialler meafure^ goes for four keppti^^ or three fifths of 
a penny* 
For the convenience of carrying on trade, there are eClablilhed, 
Fairs htw scrofs the country inland of Tappamoly^ which is their great mart, four 
Itages, at which they fuccefliveiy hold public fairs or markets, on 
every fourth day, regularly throughout the year ; each fair lailing one 
day. The people in the diflrid of the fourth ftage afTemble with their 
goods at the appointed place j to which thofe of the third refort and 
purchafe of them : the people of the third, in like manner, fupply the 
wants of the fecond ; and the fecond of the firft> who difpofe, on the 
day their market is held, of the merchandize for which they have traf- 
ficked with the Euiuptausi ana lvl^l'd)/5. Un tfteft: o^i^iifious iiU hoftilities 
are fufpended. Each man, who polTtfles one, carries his mufquet, 
with a green bough in the muzzle, as a token of peace, and afterwards^ 
when he comes to the fpot, following the example of the diredlor or 
manager of the fair, difcharges the loading into a mound of earth ; in 
try to fupply. The people of Ntas are fmaJl ia their perfons ; of a fair complexion, particularly 
the women, who are moftly fent to Batavia; but a great proporuofl of both fcxes are iofcfked 
With a fpcdes of leprofy, which covexs their bodies with white fcaks ; and their cars are made t» 
extend in fo prepoAerous a manner as to b« often nc»r touching tbeir fhouldcrs ; ^vhich the pur- 
« chafers of femalts fometimes get trimmed to the natural liKCt They are remarkable for their 
ingenuity in handicraft works, and as an inltance of their Mil in the artSi they praClfce that oC 
letting blood by cupping, in a mode nearly fimilar to ours. Among the Sunialran* bl(K>d is never 
drawn with fo faiutary aji intent. The language and manners of this people have a rcfemblance 
TO thofe of the Battas ; but yet differ in many material refpefits. Their principal food i* pork, and 
the chiefs mike a praftice of ornamenting their houTcs with the jaws of the hoga, as well a* the 
fkulls of the enemies which they kill. They are revengeful in their tempers, and cdeftmed dan- 
gerous as domeflic flsvesj a defeat in their chara£ler which philofophers will not hefitate to estcuXfc 
in an indepcndant people, torn by violence firom their country «nd eonnexioas. 
which, 
