SUMATRA 
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crops are taken for the most part from the cleared forest 
land. But a ready source of wealth lies at hand in the 
shape of pepper, and could the natives but abstain from 
gambling and cock-fighting, they might amass considerable 
fortunes. The unmarried women are often nearly covered 
with necklets, bracelets, and ear-rings of solid silver, their 
dowry being thus displayed on feast days and great occa¬ 
sions at the baled. This building is a characteristic in¬ 
stitution among the Lampongers, though halls or meeting- 
places of a somewhat similar nature are to be found not 
only in Sumatra, but as far east as New Guinea. It 
occupies the most central position in the village, and 
bears evidences of having much labour bestowed upon it. 
Mr. Forbes thus describes its uses :—“ The Balai is in 
reality the town-hall of the Lamponger. It is the 
common property of every man, woman, and child in the 
village. In Mohammedan lands a man’s house is sacred ; 
for a man rarely enters the dwelling of his neighbour, 
and never without the head of the house; but the Balai 
is the assembly-room, the meeting-place for all. Its 
doors stand ever open. All business is transacted under 
its roof, all bicharas (discussions) are held there. At 
whatever hour one enters, its most characteristic occu¬ 
pants—lazy, sleeping villagers—are to be seen dotted 
over its floor. During the day the orang-jaga, or watch¬ 
man, who occupies an open guard-room during the night, 
makes the Balai his watch-tower. All travellers passing 
through the village are free to its shade and shelter. 
The orang-bedagang or itinerant pedlar finds at once a free 
lodging, a market-place for his goods, and an eager crowd 
to listen to the news he brings. Here all civic feasts and 
festive gatherings are held. Here they enjoy the pleasures 
of the dance for unbroken days and nights. . . . Under 
its roof their love is consummated in the wedding and 
