Curious expiatory Service. 263 



reserved for a transparent serpent, at least 20 feet long, 

 which was borne along in the air by six or eight youths, 

 who imitated with sui^prising address the wiiggling motions 

 of that lithe reptile. 



To a European observer, however, what was going on in 

 one corner of the great room seemed far more extraordinary 

 and surprising. A number of native fanatics were standing 

 here round a heap of red-hot coals and ashes, before which a 

 Mahometan priest, holding in his hand a small open book, 

 was murmm'ing a prayer, accompanied by doleful cries and 

 unintelligible groans. Several natives sprang barefooted 

 into the fire, and turned about several times in its midst. 

 The priest also, singing and praying the while, skipped upon 

 the red-hot floor, apparently with tlie intention of inciting the 

 by-standers to yet further exertions. The whole exhibition 

 bore the character of being a form of religious expiation, 

 although it was carried on amid all the noise and fun of a 

 popular festival. 



A still more painful impression was made by several 

 Javanese, who placed iron circlets set with fine sharp points 

 on the cheeks, forehead, and eyes, and thus accoutred, 

 twisted their bodies about in every conceivable direction, as 

 though they were striving all they could to di'ill deep into 

 their flesh with this heavy iron instrument. The leading 

 idea contemplated in this rude fearsome exhibition, seems, 

 however, to have been simply to amuse a circle of cm-ious 

 spectators, and gain their applause. 



