ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

S U M A T R A . 55
of the fmaller flick;- but it has not penetrated far, before the larger one
takes fire. I have alfo feen the fame effect produced, more (imply, by
rubbing one bit of bamboo, with a fharp edge, acrofs another*.
Water is conveyed from the fpring, in bamboos, which, for this purpofe,
are cut, either to the length of five or fix feet, and carried over
the ihoulder, or into a number of fingle joints, that are put together in
a bafket. It is drunk out of the fruit called laboo here, and calabajh, in
the Well Indies, a hole being made in the fide of the neck, and another
at top for vent. In drinking, they generally hold the veffel at a
diflance above their mouths, and catch the flream as it defcends. Bafkcts
(brohongy baccole) are a confiderable part of the furniture of a man's
houfe, and the number of thefe feen hanging up, are tokens of the
owner's fubftance: for in them his liarvefts, of rice or pepper, are
* This mode of kindling fire is not peculiar to Sumatra : we read of the fame practice in Africa,
and even in Kamfchatka. It is furprizing, but confirmed by abundant authority, that many na­
tions of the earth, have, at certain periods, being ignorant of the ufe of fire. To our immediate
apprehenfion, human exiftence would feem in fuch circumftances impoflible. Every art, every
convenience, every nectflary of life, is now in the molt intimate manner connected with it: and
yet the Chinefe, the Egyptians, Phoenicians and Greeks acknowledged traditions concerning its
firft difcovery in their refpettive countries. But in facl:, if we can once fuppofe a man, or fociety
of men, unacquainted with the being and ufes of this element, I fee no difficulty in conceiving
the poifibility of their fupporting life without it; I mean in the tropical climates; and of centuries
paffing before they iliould arrive at the important difcovery- It is true that lightening and its
effefts, volcanos, the firing of dry fubftances by fortutious attrition, or of moift, by fermentation,
might give them an idea of its violent and deftruftive properties ; but far from being thence indu­
ced to appropriate and apply it, they would, on the contrary, dread and avoid it, even in its lefs
formidable appearances. They might be led to worfhip it as their deity, but not to chcrifli it as
their domeftic. There is every icafon to conclude that the man wiio firft reduced it to fubje£tion,
and rendered it fubfervient to the purpofes of life, procured it from the collifion of two flints,-
but the fparks thus produced, whether by accident or defign, might be obferved innumerable
times, without its fuggefting a beneficial application. In countries where thofe did not prefent
themfelves, the difcovery had, molt probably, its origin in the rubbing together of dry flicks, and
in this operation, the agent and fubjccT: co-exi fling, flame, with its properties and ufes, became more
immediately apparent. Still, as no previous idea was conceived of this latent principle, and con-
fequently no fearch made, no endeavours exerted, to bring it to light, I fee not the impoffibility
a priori, of its having remained almofl as long concealed fiom mankind, as the properties of the
loadftone, or the qualities of gunpowder.
gathered