The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-05-20

rival has largely Supplanted both in
the control OF the commerce Of the
port, though the Germans seem to be
numerous
Singapore and Penang are the great
export ports for tin. three-fOuTths OF
the worlds output of that product be
ing mined near by. The United States
takes ten and a half million dollars
worth of tin from the Straits Settle
ments, and six millions of other prod
ucts, and sells only S1,16l,000 worth in
return.
I might add in this connection that
the trade possibilities of the tropics
enthusiastic expansiOnists. The ma
tives raise their own food at a much
lower cost than We could possibly sell
1t to them, even if our food were suit
ed to their wants. They do not need
our building material and as for
clothing one American is worth more
as a customer than a hundred of these
natives. While a few wear rich robes,
the mass content themselves with a
cotton-a costume which some one
has described as a. handkerchief
around the lOins and d tablecloth
around the head" No shoe manufac-
turer need send statesmen to these
parts. for even the cOaChman and
f0Otman in livery are barefOOted.
once supposed that we might work up
a trade in breechcloUts and fishing rods
but I find that the latter grow here in
profUsion and the former is not val
liable enough to furnish a basis for
much trade.
There is one branch of commerce
that might be developed if this were
not the home Of the gem, and if the
natives were not skillful gOIdsmiths.
Jewelry is a passion here. Women
fairly load themselves down with or
uaments when they can afford it. They
wear rings on the fingers and toes,
bracelets and anklets. ear ornaments
galore and. strangest Of all. jewels in
the nose. We noticed one woman yes
terday with three enormous pendants
hanging from one ear, each from the
top. one from the side and one from
the lobe. and our cOachman at Randy
was respondent with six in either ear.
but his jewelry was more modest in
size. The nose ornaments look like
shirt studs and are screwed into one
OF both nOstTils, sometimes a ring
hangs from the point Of the nose. The
necklaces vary. greatly in style. work
manshiD and value The island of
CeyIon is rich IN gems and furnishes
a variety OF stones for the jewelers.
L
the precious stones mentioned in the
Bible are to be found here. il is
thought that CeyIOn must have been
known TO the Israelites and that her
shfDs carried wealth to Solomon.
After seeing the extravagant use of
feweIry here. one is almost tempted to
forgive even the most vulgar display
of precious stones made in the OCCident.
an then. too. the TUbies, the sapphires,
the diamonds. the emeralds, the anne
TWISTS the alexandeTites. the cats
eyes. the opals. etc exhibited in the
stores here are so beautiful that one
must be proof against vanity to resist
their charms
lee might have formed an important
item of trade. for nowhere does the
white man appreciate this luxury more
had not the ice machine made impOTta-
ton unnecessary. The larger boats now
manufacture their own ice from con-
deused sea water, and there are plants
at ali the important ports We went
from BOrneO to Singapore on 4 ship
which was equipped with an ice ma
chine. and We complained when the
supply gave Out- An English passcn-
ger took advantage of our distress to
compare national characteristics. and
humorOasly remarked that when the
Americans moved into a new territory
they at once esta blished an ice plant
while the English gave their frs at