Page:A dictionary of the Sunda language of Java.djvu/489

468 word, with the very common prefix Saha, and short sa, by means of, would easily elide into into Sa-urat = Surat, what was engraved. Now at early periods of civilization in the Archipelago, very likely before paper was known, the people wrote generally upon slips of bambu with a style or pointed knife, which is the case, till the present moment, with the Battas of Sumatra, and some Dayaks on Borneo. The lontar-leaf was then probably even less known, than at later periodsh or only known along the sea-board, where it grows best. To this moment sometimes the Sunda mountaineers scratch a bit of fresh green bambu with a sharp pointed knife and in Arabic characters when better writing materials fail them. The word Surat, altered to Suratra, also exist in the Malagasi of Madagascar, and means not only writing, but also painting. This, in his Dissertation, page 157, considers as of Arabic origin. The word Surat, when it assumes the verbal form becomes in Sunda Nyurat, Nyuratan, when the intitial Sa is dropped. In Sunda also occurs the word Sěrat, stripes, lines, as in a drawing, and this appears to be a diminutive form of the word Surat. So also we have in Sunda the word Chěrét, to write, or more properly to scribble, indicative of the rapid motion of any writing materials. The Arabs however, have a word nearly resembling our Surat in Sirat, a written document, a manuscript, examples of which are Sirat Wackidi, Sirat Tabari, and Sirat Hishami different Arab manuscripts regarding Mahomet. See Calcutta Review, March 1854, page 75.

Surat or Awi surat, the written bambu, from having longitudinal stripes between the joints along the tube. It resembles the awi gědé.

Surawung, an herb planted in the humahs and also in the gardens of the natives. Bears a fine pin-head like seed. Called in Malay Kamang'i. The leaves have a sweet-scented smell when pressed between the fingers, something resembling pepper-mint; used in native cookery. It is the Ocymum Monachorum of the family of Labiatae.

Surěm, obscure, dark, dimmed, sullied.

Surén, name of a forest-tree, Cedrela Febrifuga; a substitute for Peruvian bark can be prepared from it. The wood is much used for the panels of carriages, and the Manilla segar-boxes are made also from its wood, which is red.

Surga, Heaven, the abode of the blessed, Swarga, C, 782, the paradise of Indra on the top of Maha Méru, and the residence of deified mortals and the gods.

Suri, a queen, a woman of high rank. See.

Suri, a variety of cucumber which is of rather a globular shape and called Bonténg Suri.

Suri, the sisir of the native loom, so called about Buitenzorg. Vide Sisir.

Surili, name of a variety of monkey wild in the Sunda forests and very shy. It is greyish black, with a white mark under the chin on the breast.

Surubuk, manure; any dung or other matter, as soot or ashes, laid on the ground to improve it.

Surud, the ebb, the ebbing of the tide of the sea, or the going down of a flood in the rivers. Cha-ah na gěus surud, the flood has gone down.