SUMATRA. 
IS eftabiiflicdj and fupplies an estenfive demand* They weave alfo very 
handfome filk pieces, of a particular form, for that part of the drefs 
which is called by the Malay s> eayen [arrmg ; but their filk manufac- 
ture has much decreafed within thefe twelve years, owing, as they fay, 
to an unavoidable failure in the breed of filk worms ; or more probably 
to the decay of induftry amongfl: themfclves. 
They are expert and bold navigators, and employ a variety of vcffcls, NavlgtitJija, 
according to the voyages they have occafion to undertake, and the 
purpofes, either of commerce or war, for which they defign them, 
the river is covered with a multitude of ii^mgfampans or canoes, which 
go to fea with the morning breeze, and return in the afternoon, with 
the fea wind, full laden. 
Having no convenient coins; though moft fpecies of money will be taken 
there at a valuation; they commonly make their pay men cs m gold duft, and 
for that purpofe are all provided with fcales or fmall fteelyards (datcbin). 
They carry their gold about them, wrapped up in pieces of bladder 
and often purchafe to fo fmall an amount, as to make ufe of grains of 
paddec, or other feeds, for weights. Their principal ftandard" weight 
is the himcall^ of one ounce, ten penny weights, and twenty one grains. 
The t&k^ an imaginary valuation, is one fifth of a buncal of gold ; and 
is equal to fixteen mace^ which are very fmall gold pieces, of the value 
of fifteen pence each. 
The monarchy is hereditary, and is more or lefs abfolute, in pro- ^ 
Govcmmeitt. 
portion to the talents of the reigning prince ; no other bounds being 
fet to his authority, than the counterbalance or check it meets with, 
from the power of the great vaflals, and difaffc^lion of the commonality. 
But this reliftance is exerted in fo irregular a manner, and with fo little 
view to the public good, that nothing like liberty refults from it» They 
experience only an alternative of tyranny and anarchy, or the former 
under different fhapes. Many of the other Sumatran people are in the 
poffeffion of a very high degree of freedom, founded upon a rigid at- . 
tachment 
