ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

iSx S U M A T R A .
brated Jefuit Miffionary, mentions, that when he was at Amboina,
fo late as 1546, the people were then beginning to learn to write from
the Arabians : but that ifland lies very far to the eaftward; and being
of lefs confiderable account in that age, than fubfequent tranfadtions
have rendered it, the zeal and avarice of thofe religious adventurers, did
not happen to be earlier attracted thither.
The inhabitants of Menangcahw did not only change their religion;
or rather adopted one, where there was none before; but an entire alteration
was likewife wrought in their language, laws, cuftoms, and
manners. This has indifputably been efFeéted, by the fettling among
them of Malays from the peninfula, with whom the former correfpond,
at this day, in every point of refemblance; infomuch, that throughout
the ifland, a Menangcahow man, and a Malay, are nearly fynonimous
terms; including in the limits of that kingdom, the fea coaft of Atayangin,*
whence they more immediately emigrate to the fouthern parts.
They have no wheat, but ufe rice for bread. They are apparently without vines, and extract their
liquor from a certain tree, in which they mike an incifion j the juice as it diftills, being received
in a veffel. India nuts are likewife found here. In the .kingdom of Dragoia (poffibly that
called An-drageri, and which in later times has been corrupted to Dragnhi), the people arefavage
idolaters, and fpeak a language of their own. When any of them are fick or infirm, and their ma­
gicians tell them they cannot recover, it is the practice for their friends to kill them by fuffbeation,
and then to eat their bodies, (which they juftify by a curious argument). They alfo kill, and
eat fuch drangers caught amongft them, as cannot pay a ranfom. In Lambri (a name mentioned
by Barros, and other Portuguefe hiftorians) grows much fpice, and certain plants by them called
Pyrco, which, after tranfplanting, they let grow for three years, and then pluck them up by the
roots. The inhabitants of the mountainous parts have tails a palm long. Unicorns, and other
wild beafts abound here. In Patifur (perhaps Campar) grows moft rare and exquifite camphre,
efteemed equal in value to gold. The inhabitants eat rice, and draw their liquor from trees. Here
are feen trees with a foft bark, under which is found a white, mealy fubftance that is prepared
into excellent food. I have eaten of it many times with much fatisfaction. (fago). Fifty leagues
from Java minor, lie the iflands of Necuran and Angania, and from the latter to the great ifland
of Sejlam, (Ceylon) is three hundred and forty leagues. Italian Edit, of 1601, and French of
„,6.
* Alay~angin fignifies windward ; but the part of Sumatra fo called, extending from Natal to
Priaman, does not, I fhould apprehend, take it's name from it's fituation, but from the people,
who probably fettled there in confiderable numbers from thofe eaftern countries which lie to wind­
ward (with regard to the North eaft monfoon) of the peninfula of Malayo, and which are thence
termed Aiay-avgin, as thofe on the weftern fide of the peninfula, aTe termed Dtboua-angin.
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