Pagan races of the Malay Peninsula - Sabrizain.org

CHAP. IX NEGRITOS OF PERAK 425
internode. The cut edge is then most carefully
smoothed, and, precaution being taken to see that the
entire portion Is sufficient for " two comb-lengths,"
the three double ring-lines are first incised twice
each upon both sides of the tube. These lines serve
not only to divide up the pattern, but themselves
possess a certain amount of charm-power. They are
produced by laying the edge of the chopper across the
bamboo at right angles and rolling the latter along
with the left hand. Sometimes these lines, it is true,
are first incised separately on the surface of the comb
after the splitting of the internode, but this was rarely
the case, because it was then more difficult to make
them parallel. The internode is now split into two
separate parts of equal size, which are then split again
into as many pieces as the bamboo allows. Large
bamboo shafts will produce four or even six laminae,
but smaller ones as a rule only yield three. The
pattern is now incised with the point of the chopper and
rubbed over with dry charcoal, a drop of water being
added to rub it quite into the lines. The lamina is
then heated over the fire and wax rubbed in with the
help of bark-cloth or something of the kind, after which
the lamina is wiped clean. The hot wax not only fills
up the incisions of the pattern and fixes the powdered
charcoal in them, but at the same time takes away all
traces of the charcoal from the smooth, hard, unincised
portions of the comb.
The comb is now turned round and a deep furrow
is cut on the back corresponding exactly to the lowest
line of the pattern on the front, half the thickness of
the bamboo being cut through and the gap widened
from below. The woody part of the interior is
then stripped off as far as this cross-cut, until