2 1 8 The Gardens of the Sim. [ch. xi. 



crafty and cruel traitor to his country. Upon the women 

 here, as throughout Borneo, devolves a large share of the 

 everyday labour, and nearly all the trading in the markets 

 is conducted by them, while their lords and masters stand 

 listlessly by spear in hand, or gather in little groups to 

 talk. Everywhere we saw them at work making mats or 

 baskets, or met them in dug-out canoes and outriggers 

 going to or coming from market, or from the place where 

 the fresh water is daily obtained, below the Orang Kayu's 

 house. The women of the better class spend much of 

 their time in embroidery and in cooking, indeed we were 

 assured that the food set before us at the Istana had been 

 prepared under the Sultana's personal supervision, which 

 I can well believe, and I do not think English ladies 

 could have prepared such a repast as it was in a better 

 way; indeed the snowy bowl of rice would, I think, prove 

 inimitable to most of our lady cooks at home. Riding is 

 fashionable in Sulu, and none but the very poorest walk 

 far. Anything seems acceptable as a steed, and if the 

 aristocratic grey pony with somewhat of Arab neetness and 

 gentleness is not obtainable, buffaloes, and even the cows, 

 are taken as substitutes. 



It is really a very pretty sight to see the market people 

 coming to market from the hills, men and women alike, 

 mounted on ponies or cattle with their baskets, bags, and 

 bundles of produce flung across the saddle before and 

 behind. The men, especially, mounted on their high 

 wooden saddles, armed with the national spear, and clad 

 in chain armour tunic, forcibly reminded one of the illus- 

 trations of Don Quixote, a resemblance considerably 

 heightened by the gaunt leanness of their steeds. A 

 plurality of wives is general with the Datus, and others 

 who have means to keep up an establishment, and these 

 women are for the most part purchased from their 



