( 3 ) 
2. Middlemen. 
When all the rattan has been collected in the 
chosen area or when a sufficient amount has been 
obtained to make it worth while, it is carried to some 
more accessible point, usually on a river, where it is 
taken over by a buyer. The buyers often go long 
distances up the streams and are usually Chinese 
or their representatives. The first buyer may be 
working independently or he may be working for 
someone at a small town. The price which he pays 
is usually very small and he is likely to reject any 
pieces which are very noticeably inferior. When he 
arrives at the settlement he often disposes of the 
rattan to another local buyer who may attend to the 
shipment to a large port. Rattan frequently changes 
hands several times before arriving at Singapore, 
and each of the buyers may do a certain amount 
of sorting. There is a good deal of loss of weight 
in drying, and some Of the pieces, which were too 
immature, will shrink a good deal and have to be 
descarded. There is thus a steady loss in volume 
and in weight until the rattan is well dried. 
3. Handling in Singapore. 
When the rattan arrives at Singapore, it may 
again pass through a number of hands. It is sorted 
into grades and is given certain special treatment. 
Kinds which have a natural glaze, which is a more 
or less waxy surface film, are prepared by being 
“ luntied ” (Malay, runti ) . This process consists in 
rubbing the rattan about a post between two pieces 
of bamboo, a twisting motion being used. When this 
process is complete, the rattan is washed in running 
water, scoured with sharp sand, laid in the sun to 
dry, bleached in sulphur . fumes, and then taken 
42 j 2 12> 
