ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . 307
porary breaftworks and entrenchments. They never engage hand to
hand, always keeping at a pretty fafe diftance, feldom nearer than random
fliot; except in cafe of fudden furprize.
Their ftandard in war, is a horfe's head, from whence flows a long Arms.
mane, or tail of hair. Their arms are matchlock guns, bamboo lances,
and a fide weapon like a fword, or large knife. They carry no creefc
like the Malays. Their ammunition boxes are provided with a number
of little wooden cafes, each containing a charge for the piece, which are
juft our ancient bandoleers; and in thefe are carried likewife their match,
and fmaller ranjows, the larger being in a joint of bamboo, like a quiver,
flung over the fhoulder. They have machines curioufly carved and
adorned, for holding their bullets, and others, of uncommon conftruction,
for a referve of gunpowder. This article they manufacture themfelves,
procuring their faltpetre ufually from goat's dung. The matchlocks
they are fupplied with by traders, who bring them from Menangcabow,
where they are made: their fwords are of their own workmanfliip.
•
The natives of the fea coaft exchange their benjamin and camphire, Trade.
for iron, fteel, brafs wire, and fait; of which laft, about an hundred
thoufand bamboos (gallons), are annually taken off in the bay of Tappanooly.
Thefe they barter again with the more inland inhabitants; in
the mode I fhall prefently defcribe; for the products and manufactures
of the country, particularly their cotton cloths; of which article very
little is imported from abroad. Some wear a ftrip of foreign blue cloth,
about their heads, in imitation of the Malay day tar, and a few have badjeos
(outer garments) of chintz; but upon the whole, the fale of piece
goods in the bay is very inconfiderable.*
Having
* A great trade is carried on horn Natal to the ifland of Neas, which lies not far diftanr.
The articles received from thence are Rice and Slaves, and of thefe laft not lefs than four
hundred and fifty annually, befide about an hundred and fifty which go to the northern ports;
and in catching thefe unfortunate viaims of the avarice of the chiefs, it is computed that not
fewer than two hundred are killed; which together form a confideiable number for fuch a coun-
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