PANDIGALANG. 
37 
Having reached Plassur Pittee about 5 o’clock in the evening, we 
set off for Pandigalang, a village five miles to the east of the mountain ; 
and at this place, which was formerly famed for the manufactory of 
bracelets, we passed the night. 
On the following morning several natives brought different kinds 
of arms and ornaments for sale, in consequence of its having been 
given out by the Ingabi, the preceding evening, that I wished to pur- 
chase some. There was, however, an evident reluctance to dispose 
of them, and it was stated that those only parted from their weapons 
who were embarrassed by gaming. I learned from general testimony 
that the Javanese have a kind of superstitious attachment to their 
arms, especially when they have descended to them from their ances- 
tors, or have been illustrated by use in war. Of those brought to me, 
the kriss was the most remarkable. It is a dagger worn by all classes 
of the natives of Java, and by the Malay tribes in its neighbourhood, 
having sometimes a crooked or curved blade, and a handle very 
beautifully carved. Its sheath is generally of wood or metal ; fre- 
quently of gold. The gold thus used is of various degrees of purity, 
from an equal mixture of copper to a fineness which permits the most 
delicate assay ; but it is generally very thin, being a mere covering to a 
case of wood. A variegated wood is also in great estimation for the 
manufacture of sheaths : it has a light ground, marked either with 
dark spots or veins. A knife of rather elegant form, and neatly orna- 
mented with silver, was also brought for sale. The natives wear these 
arms in different parts of their dress, and they derive from them in 
the eyes of a stranger a formidable aspect : they place them generally 
in their girdles, either before or behind, and sometimes on one side. 
The kriss seems formed for a back stroke, and is easily concealed 
by turning it under the fore-arm. I made a drawing of these instru- 
ments ; and specimens of those which I thought interesting from 
their form or workmanship, are shown in the annexed engraving. 
