not always make their appearance before dinner, that time,
previous to a second or third meal, being appropriated to
cock-fighting or other diversions peculiar to men. In the evening
their other amusements take place, of which the dances are the
principal. These are performed either singly or by two women, two
men, or with both mixed. Their motions and attitudes are usually
slow, approaching often to the lascivious. They bend forward as
they dance, and usually carry a fan, which they close and strike
smartly against their elbows at particular cadences.... The
assembly seldom breaks up before daylight and these _birnbangs_
are often continued for several days together. The young men
frequent them in order to look out for wives, and the lasses of
course set themselves off to the best advantage. They wear their
best silken dresses, of their own weaving, as many ornaments of
filigree as they possess, silver rings upon their arms and legs,
and ear-rings of a particular construction. Their hair is
variously adorned with flowers, and perfumed with oil of
benjamin. Civet is also in repute, but more used by the men. To
render their skin fine, smooth, and soft they make use of a white
cosmetic called _poopoor_ [a mixture of ginger, patch-leaf,
maize, sandal-wood, fairy-cotton, and mush-seed with a basis of
fine rice]." (W. Marsden, _History of Sumatra_, 1783, p. 230.)

The Alfurus of Seram in the Moluccas, who have not yet been
spoilt by foreign influences, are very fond of music and dancing.
Their _maku_ dances, which take place at night, have been
described by Joest: "Great torches of dry bamboos and piles of
burning resinous leaves light up the giant trees to their very
summits and reveal in the distance the little huts which the
Alfuras have built in the virgin forests, as well as the skulls