buckler, masks, saws, and wheels, with belts, bands, and long robes.  The whole was a strange mixture of tragedy and farce; and the group of natives were not far removed in appearance from the supernumeraries that a Turkish tragedy might have brought together in the green-room of a theatre.  A set of more cowardly-looking miscreants I never saw.  They appeared ready either to trade with us, pick our pockets, or cut our throats, as an opportunity might offer.

The wife’s apartment was not remarkable for its comforts, although the Datu spoke of it with much consideration, and evidently held his better half in high estimation.  He was also proud of his six children, the youngest of whom he brought out in its nurse’s arms, and exhibited with much pride and satisfaction.  He particularly drew my attention to its little highly-wrought and splendidly-mounted kris, which was stuck through its girdle, as an emblem of his rank.  He was in reality a fine-looking child.  The kitchen was behind the house, and occupied but a small space, for they have little in the way of food that requires much preparation.  The house of the Datu might justly be termed nasty.

We now learned the reason why the Sultan could not be seen; it was Friday, the Mahomedan Sabbath, and he had been at the mosque from an early hour.  Lieutenant Budd had been detained, because it was not known when he would finish his prayers; and the ceremonies of the day were more important than usual, on account of its peculiar sanctity in their calendar.

[Visiting the Sultan.] Word had been sent off to the ship that the Sultan was ready to receive me, but the messenger passed us while on our way to shore.  After we had been seated for a while, the Datu asked if we were ready to accompany him to see the Sultan; but intimated that no one but Captain Hudson and myself could be permitted to lay eyes on him.  Being informed that we were, he at once, and in our presence, slipped on his silken trousers, and a new jacket, covered with bell-buttons; put on his slippers, strapped himself round with a long silken net sash, into which he stuck his kris, and, with umbrella in hand, said he was ready.  He now led the way out of his house, leaving the motley group behind, and we took the path to the interior of the town, towards the Sultan’s.  The Datu and I walked hand in hand, on a roadway about ten feet wide, with a small stream running on each side.  Captain Hudson and the interpreter came next, and a guard of six trusty slaves brought up the rear.

When we reached the outskirts of the town, about half a mile from the Datu’s, we came to the Sultan’s residence, where he was prepared to receive us in state.  His house is constructed in the same manner as that of the Datu, but is of larger dimensions, and the piles are rather higher.  Instead of steps, we found a ladder, rudely constructed of bamboo, and very crazy.  This was so steep that it was necessary to use the hands in mounting it.  I understood