Cutlery of every description is made by the smith. The most important manufacture of this kind is the _krís_, or dagger, of the peculiar form well known to be worn by all the more civilized inhabitants of the Eastern Islands.
The price of a _krís_ blade, newly manufactured, varies from half a rupee to fifty dollars; but the same _krís_, if it is of good character, and if its descent can be traced for three or four generations, is frequently prized at ten times that sum. A _pándi_ employed to manufacture a good _krís_ blade, if the materials are furnished, is paid three dollars for the job.
The manufacture of sheaths or scabbards (_sárong_) for the krís constitute an exclusive profession; and the manufacturers are called _túkang meráng'gi_, or _mergóngso_. These men attend at the public market, where they occupy a particular quarter, in which may be seen people employed in the finishing or repair of every part of the mounting necessary for this instrument; some upon the handle, others upon the sheath; some in applying the paint and lacquer, others attending with a preparation of acids and arsenic for cleaning the blade, and bringing out the appearance of the _pámur_, a white metal obtained from _Biliton_ and Celebes, which is worked up with the iron, in order to produce the damasked appearance of the blade.
Copper is manufactured into the kettles and pots employed by the natives for cooking; most of the other domestic vessels are of brass, which is manufactured into various other articles, from the smallest, such as buttons, ear-studs, and other ornaments, in imitation of the gold patterns, to brass guns of considerable calibre, employed for the defence of small vessels. A very extensive foundery of this kind is established at _Grésik_. From the specimen of the casts in brass, copper, &c. which are occasionally dug up near many of the ruinous temples sacred to the ancient worship of the country, we may assert, that great proficiency was once attained in this art: like that, however, of stone-cutting, it has very much declined.
Gold and silver, as is well known, are wrought by the natives of the Eastern Islands into exquisite ornaments; and the Javans are by no means behind their neighbours, the Sumatrans, in the knowledge of this manufacture. They do not, however, usually work the gold into those beautiful filigree patterns, described as common among the _Maláyus_ on Sumatra, nor is their work generally so fine.