They also besmear their bodies with oil, as do the natives
of other hot countries, to protect themselves from being stung by
insects, while they let their nails grow exceedingly long, scraping
them until they are transparent, and dyeing them vermilion. The poorer
class go almost naked, having only a small piece of cloth round the
waist, and a piece of linen about the head, or a cap made of leaves
resembling the crown of a hat. The richer sort wear white breeches to
above the knee, and a piece of calico, or silk, wrapped round their
loins and thrown over the left shoulder. Some wear sandals, but all are
bare-legged and bare-bodied from the waist upward. The common language
among them is the Malayan language, and, by speaking to some whom I met
on landing, I found I was able to make myself understood, and to
understand, though imperfectly, what was said to me. The Sumatrans are
a very indolent race of people, which accounted for the small interest
they took in the arrival of our ship, none thinking it worth while to
come aboard, or to make any inquiry concerning us.
When I explained that my business was to obtain new masts and rigging I
was directed to the house of an Arab named Mahomet Achmet, a carpenter
and ship chandler, if such he could be called, who traded with vessels
visiting the island, and dealt with them in the matter of repairs or
refitting.
Pages:
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272