Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

MODES OF BARTER
Jakun to covet things which he knows not how to
procure save from them. These are cloth, and certain
articles of earthenware and iron, such as coarse plates,
pots, pans, chopping-knives or " parangs," and axes.
Sugar and coconuts again are both much prized.
The Jakun's supply of rice often fails. His tobacco
is deficient in strength. Although he has both wild
and cultivated betel-vines, he has neither gambier,
areca-nut, nor lime. Hence the Malays often ascend
the river, their canoes laden with a tempting variety
of these particular articles, and the Jakun, unable to
resist the desire of calling some of them his own,
needs little persuasion to become indebted to the
Malay trader for any amount the latter may choose to
impose upon him. The Jakun now finds himself in
possession of a few of those things which bring him
nearer the Malay, and at the same time under an
obligation to collect rattans for his creditor, various
kinds of eagle - wood, (" gharu " and " chandan "),
camphor, resin or "dammar," wax, and "gutta taban." ^
These articles, with the exception of the "dammar,"
of which he makes torches, are articles of no value in
his own eyes, but in which his forests so abound
that, if a more equitable system of exchange were
established between him and the Malays, he would
not only find himself in possession of a large supply
of all those articles which are now sparingly doled out
to him, but actually also of a growing capital. The
collection of the above commodities, however, does
not form a constant or regular employment for any of
' Hervey, in/. R. A. S., S. B., No. I was told they were too busy getting
8, pp. 103, 104, says, in writing of the rattans for the Malays, which they do
Jakunof Johor : " At this place, Kam- at a fixed price in rice and other
pong Kenalau, I found a clearing, but articles, such as clothing, crockery,
no cultivation ; on asking the reason, parangs (choppers), salt, and tobacco.""