i6o Voyage of the Novara. 



Tarum, after it has burst through the barrier-ridge, flows in 

 a subterranean channel ; interesting in a geological point of 

 view, because at this point we find the very same limestone 

 rocks which in an upright position form the structure of the 

 hill, lying horizontally on the flat plain of Radjamandala, on the 

 opposite bank of this brook. At Radjamandala we once more 

 struck the main road, and found our travelling chaise ready, 

 which conveyed us to Tjiandjur, and thence back to Batavia." 

 While the geologist of our Expedition was occupied in the 

 excursion above described, the commodore and his com- 

 panions witnessed a most interesting spectacle in an ethno- 

 graphical point of view. The Javanese Regent of Tjiandjur 

 prepared a great fete, to which all the populace were invited, 

 in the great hall of the palace, where a variety of entertain- 

 ments, games, and dramatic representations took place. Here, 

 as at Bandong, the interior of the house was entirely fur- 

 nished in the European fashion, and only the ear-splitting, 

 deafening tones of the gamelong,* the stout, bustling female 

 house-keeper, who, richly apparelled and wearing yellow 

 unmentionables, did the honours with a somewhat waddling 

 gait, and the Oriental dress of the Regent, behind whom a 

 couple of Javanese servants, crouched on their hams, carry- 

 ing a neatly-carved silver box of exquisite workmanship, 

 containing the ingredients for the betel, recalled to our 

 recollection that we were in Java, in the residence of a 



") 



* A genuine Javanese musical instrument, consisting of a number of bells aJl 

 diiTereuLly tuned, which are struck with tw3 small bamboo-sticks. 



