Extent: 64 unnumbered pages : illustrations ; 12 x 8.5 cm
Note:
Page orientation: landscape. Condition: The manuscript is generally well preserved and in decent condition except for the first and last pages which are almost illegible. The ink does not always adhere well to the bark, and the letters are slightly to small considering that the script has been written with a relatively broad pen. The combination of these two factors hampers readability of the manuscript. Physical appearance: The bark book has no covers. On this manuscript, and especially on page B32 one can clearly see that the manuscript was ruled with blind lines drawn parallel to the fold with the aid of a bamboo ruler (balobas) and a pointed bamboo knife (panggorit). Only 50 of the 64 pages contain text and/or illustrations. Description: Pustaha (bark book) made by the Batak people in North Sumatra (Indonesia) most likely in the nineteenth century. Paper and ink: The manuscript is made of the bast (inner bark) of the aquilaria tree. Black as well as red ink has been used in this manuscript. The red (or actually orange coloured) ink is only used on page B1. Collected by Frederick Starr, Professor of Anthropology at the University of Chicago, 1892-1923.
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