SAGO. 
years ; after this period, it gradually loses its moisture, and 
is no longer fit for sago when tlie tree comes into bearing. 
Sago is cultivated in large patches, divided into lots the 
property of individuals, and as much as one man, his wife and 
family choose to look after—I say choose, because it is not 
as much as they could if they would attend. One man as 
above can manage 100 fathoms square, upon this he plants 
400 seeds, and subsists himself for the first 6 or 7 years on 
his means, not unfrequently leaving the trees to take care of 
themselves, until he can commence cutting. From that day 
the supply is constant, each tree throws out from 10 to 20 
suckers, which increase so rapidly that the owner is obliged 
to thin them constantly. A good tree yields from 40 to 50 
tampins, and the worst ever cut down about 25; this is on 
Appong.. The tampin of Appong is to that of Mandha as 4 
is to 5. It is a rough measure made of the leaves of the 
sago tree of a conical form 20 to 30 inches long with a base of 
about 8 inches diameter, both ends of this are stuffed with 
the refuse pith to prevent the escape of the farina, and the 
tampin of Appong holds on an average 19 pounds avoirdupois 
—thus 7 tampin very nearly equal a picul of this place, or 
133-’- lbs. avoirdupois. 
It will be needless to speak of the sago of each place, dif¬ 
fering but a little in quality, and in the measures they are 
sold by, as the acuteness of the Chinese brings them all to 
their true level on arrival here. One remark on the stupidity 
of the cultivators may be made, viz., that 100 tampins of 
Appong may always be purchased on the spot, cheap or 
dgar at other places it matters not, for 6 1-4 reals—or 
Sp. Drs, 5. 12 as a Sp. Dr. or a Real is the same thing with 
them and both go alike for 245 doits or 82 cents of a Sp. Dr. 
of Singapore. If the person in quest of sago takes doits, they 
must be of the small kind, but thick. At Mandha, on the 
same principle the same number of tampins may be had for 
Sp. Drs. 9. 61. Now the Appong measure yields 14 piculs 29 
catties, and the Mandha 17 piculs 86 catties, being a dif¬ 
ference against Appong of Sp. Drs. 2.51, and all because 
they say it has been the adat or custom to sell it so ! 
One person is sufficient to clear the underwood away as it 
grows up in every lot of 100 fathoms square. The whole fa¬ 
mily are however fully occupied when they cut down the trees 
for manufacture—which is always done on the spot where the 
tree is felled. They prepare the number of Tampins or mea¬ 
sures required for the reception of the sago in the first in¬ 
stance, and put them out to dry; they then fell the tree, and 
