To clean the flexible stems of the rattan, the native draws them back and forth in crotches formed by fastening sticks on stakes driven into the ground. Most of the Malayan rattan output is consumed by the furniture industry of the United States and Europe, though some is used for umbrella handles and canes.

Photograph by Cowling from Galloway

PERHAPS THIS WAS THE GREAT-GRANDMOTHER OF "THE CHARLESTON' "No Malay dancing girl could hold a job in even the cheapest American cabaret show. To any Yankee theatergoer the Malay dancer, with her sadly without even a suggestion of 'jazz' (see text, page 266). shuffling feet and idly swaying hands, is a dull and tiresome performer, and the din and rattle of gongs, drums, and dried sticks struck together are

To clean the flexible stems of the rattan, the native draws them back and forth in crotches formed by fastening sticks on stakes driven into the ground. Most of the Malayan rattan output is consumed by the furniture industry of the United States and Europe, though some is used for umbrella handles and canes.

A SINGAPORE PILGRIM VISITS A STRANGE PIECE OF STATUARY IN A BUDDHIST TEMPLE At first glance Singapore's entire population seems to be Chinese, for this race is so prominent as almost to eclipse the individuals of other nationalities. Many sections of the city look like solid blocks of China, to which come additional immigrants. At the oldest Chinese temple the visitor, before entering, must buy crackers charged with gunpowder and explode them on the pavement in order to exorcise the devils.

ardent promoters of cock fighting, they have also produced highly tempered daggers and krises and tiny but murderous spears that fit over the spurs of roosters, so that at one fell blow a clever cock can disembowel his plumed opponent.

Wonderful shawls they make, too, and plaited baskets, and vessels of beaten silver with trimmings of gold filigree. But here, as elsewhere in the East, the advent of cheap European jewelry, cutlery, and machinemade cloth seems to have diverted the native artisan from his ancient calling.

Even the striking native dress, the bril

liantly figured sarong and the bright handkerchief knotted cleverly into a picturesque head covering, is giving way, especially in the cities and towns, to the straw hat, white cotton pants, and shoes. And, instead of carrying a spear, the modern town Malay prefers an umbrella with a fancy handle!

WHY THE MALAY RUNS AMOK

From these Malays we borrowed the common phrase, to run amok. This murder mania is familiar to every American soldier who served in Mindanao, where

Rattan for commercial purposes varies in length from 5 to 35 feet and is tied in bundles for shipment (see, also, illustration, page 263). Since the time of Darwin's visit to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in 1845, when he noted that coconuts were exported to Singapore "for local consumption as oil and for mixing in curries," the remainder of the world has discovered their value. From the sun- or kiln-dried meat, known to commerce as copra, is expressed a valuable oil, used in making oleomargarine, marine soap, and other commodities; the refuse makes a nutritious cake for dairy cows.