ÖÖI 8x 3 ^c- 0 - Acehbooks.org

72 S U M A T R A .
The price of this neceffary of life, differs throughout the ifland, according
to the general demand at the place where it is purchafed, and
the circumftances of the feafon. At a northern port called Soofoo, it
is feldom under thirty bamboos (gallons) the Spanifh dollar. In the
fouthern diftricts, where the cultivation is more confined, and the foil
lefs productive, it varies from twelve to four bamboos, according as the
harveft is more or lefs plentiful, or the market better or worfe fupplied
with imported rice.
Coconut. The Coco-nut tree may be efteemed the next important object of cultivation,
from the vifes to which it's produce is applied by the natives
ef India •, though on Sumatra it is not converted to fuch a variety of
purpofes, as in thofe iilands where nature has been lefs bountiful in other
gifts. It's value here confifts principally in the kernel of the nut,
of which the confumption is prodigious, being a principal ingredient
in all their difhes. The ftem is in but little eftimation for building,
where the fineft timber fo much abounds. The hufk is not twilled into
ropes, called coyar, as on the other fide of India, rattans and ejoo being
ufed for that purpofe. The fliell is but little employed as a domeftic
utenfil, the lower clafs of the people preferring the bamboo and the
laboo, and the better fort being poffefled of coarfe earthen ware. The
filaments which furround the ftem are probably manufactured into cloth
in thofe countries alone, where cotton is not produced, which is a material
infinitely preferable : befides, that certain kinds of trees, as before
obferved, afford, in their foft and pliable bark, a fpecies of cloth ready
w r oven to their hands. Of the coconut, however, they make oil for the
hair, and for burning in lamps ; though, in the interior country, the light
moft commonly ufed, is from the dammar or turpentine, of which links
are formed. Toddy, a liquor efteemed for various purpofes, and particularly
in the manufacture of arrack, is drawn from this, as well as
other fpecies of the palm: from the head they procure a kind of cabbage
; and of the fibres of the leaves they compofe their brooms. Every
doofoon or village is furrounded with a number of coconut trees, where
the foil and air will fuffer them to grow, and near the bazars, or fea-
port