IN SUMATRA. 259 



floating down the river, I moored, witli tlio Eosidcnt's* per- 

 mission, opposite the Residency stairs. Instantly a curious 

 crowd that never dispersed during the whole of my stay, 

 lined the bank to see and discuss the unusual flotilla, wliicli on 

 my arrival presented a singularly picturesque appearance, as 

 the entire exterior of my Rakit was one mass of blossoms from 

 the orchids suspended round it, and its cargo of plants, skin?, 

 living birds, and Honey-bears, and the beautiful] ittle Linsang 

 formed an unwonted shipment. 



Palembang, the capital of the Residency, contains a great 

 population of from 50,000 to G0,000 souls, of Arab, Chinese, 

 Javanese and Malays. They speak the Malay language inter- 

 mixed with much Javanese, and write it either in Arabic or 

 Javanese characters. It is the seat of a great export and 

 import trade with Batavia, Singapore, Siam, and China, and is 

 famed for its manufacture of furniture, especially of laquer 

 work, made by Chinese brought for the purpose from their own 

 country by rich ralembang-Cliincse artificers, and for the weav- 

 ing of rich sarongs of silk interwrought with gold into most 

 elegant designs. Everywhere one perceived signs of business 

 and activity, but I saw none so eager for employment as the 

 ferry-boat men, who at the various landing-places screamed 

 themselves hoarse at every approaching passenger, crying up 

 the special qualities of their boats, and the generously low 

 sum for which they would condescend to ferry one over, and 

 then with sarcastic jokes and laughter falling to upbraid and 

 praise the successful ferryman and his boat ; they might liuvc 

 been Egyptian donkey drivers or English omnibus conductors, 

 who had changed their skin and their occupation, rather than 



staid Jilalays. 



porta 



rep 



barracks of the Sultans built in 1780 by, as 

 European, a strong, massive edifice surrounded by a stono 

 rampart in which now the garrison is quartered ; the elegant 

 house of the Kesident, looking out on the river from a little 

 distance back ; the Chinese Jossdiouse, and the 3[osque floor'-d 

 with marble, and having a minaret 100 feet high. It is nearly 

 150 years of age ; but it certainly looks better at a little distance 



* At that time, the distinguished and urhinc officer, Mr. Lagin^ Tobias, 

 afterwards Governor of Achecn, 



