The sago which we use for our puddings is made by refining the raw sago. When our grandfathers and grandmothers were young, the best raw sago used to be mixed with water and rubbed into small grains before it was sent to Europe. At the present time the sago, after being moistened, is passed through a sieve into a shallow iron pot, placed over a fire, and in this way the round pearly sago which we use is produced. As this sago is half-baked in this operation, it will keep for a very long time.
The Malays call the sago-tree the rumbiya and its pith sagu from which word we get our name sago. We have here an instance of a Malay word which is in daily use in the English language.
FAITH AND SIGHT.
A little story is told which helps to show the difference between faith and sight.
The master of an infant school told a boy to move a stool in such a way that he was not seen by the little ones himself. Then he taught them this lesson.
'You cannot see any one moving the stool; is it not alive?'
'Oh, no, sir! it never was alive. Some one must be moving it.'
'But you cannot see anybody; perhaps it moves itself.'
'No, sir; though we don't see anybody, that makes no difference. It cannot move itself.'