ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

«4 S U M A T R A .
and fo attributes his occafional difappolntments to the particular interpofition
of the deity. The cunning-men, who, in this and many other
inftances of conjuration, impofe on the Ample country people, are always
Malay adventurers.
When the periodical rains begin to fall, which happens gradually
about September or Oftober, they proceed to fow the grain. Ploughs
are rarely ufed, and only in the open plains, when cultivated, in countries
where the old woods are comparatively fcarce. In the grounds I
am defcribing, the flumps of the trees would utterly preclude the poffibility
of working them. The hufbandman enters the plantation; as it
is ufual to call the paddee field; with a fharp flake in each hand, and
with thefe makes holes on either fide of him, at equal diftances, as he
proceeds. Another perfon follows him with the feed, of which he
drops a few grains into each hole; leaving it to accident, or the winds
and rain, to cover it. The birds, as may be expected, often prove diftructive
foes, and in a plantation far removed from any other, they have
been known to devour the whole. The above is all the labour that a
laddang requires, till the harveft time, which is eftimatcd at five
months and ten days from the period of fowing.
, The preparation of the Sawoor, or low ground plantations, is as
«ice. follows. After clearing away the brufh wood, and aquatic fhrubs,
with which the fwamps and marfhes, when neglected, are overun, a
number of buffaloes, whofe greatcft enjoyment confifts in wading and
rolling in mud, are turned in. Thefe work it up by their motions,
and enrich it with their dung. The next care is to level it well, that
the water, when introduced, may lie equally on all the parts. For
this purpofe, in fome diftriéb of the country, they contrive to draoabout
on the furface, a flat board with earth on it, to deprefs the rifing
fpots, and fill up the hollow ones. The whole is then divided by parallel
dams; by means of which the water is retained, or let off at pleafure.
Thefe divifions or plats, are called peering, which fignifies a difh..
Whilft