ch. xiii.] Native Fashions. 265 



crowded around me and watched every line — and espe- 

 cially the colouring — with great interest. I was surprised 

 at the small number of women who came to see us in 

 comparison with those who nocked into the house when 

 we were last here. I found, however, that this was owing 

 to their being away engaged in rice planting and other 

 field labour. The headman of this village, named " Le- 

 moung," had died since my last visit, and we saw his 

 grave on the little hill just as we entered the village. A 

 little hut had been erected over it, and this was decorated 

 with eight little streamers of white cloth. His son, 

 " Boloung," now " reigns in his stead." When we took 

 our evening meal most of the women had returned from 

 work, and the house was crowded, and the greatest 

 curiosity was evinced as our plates, knives, forks, and 

 glasses were spread out glitteringly in the lamplight. 

 These people are very different from the Malays of the 

 coast, and never tired of laughing and talking about 

 ourselves and our goods. The women are not in the 

 least secluded, and are far better proportioned, as well as 

 more amiable and industrious, than are their Malayan 

 sisters. Their clothes consist of a " sarong," or short 

 petticoat, fastened around the waist, and reaching to the 

 knees, and a strip of blatk cloth is bound over the breast. 

 Their ornaments consist of brass wristlets and anklets. 

 Necklets of beads or brass wire are also worn, and over 

 the breasts, as also around the waist, coils of rattan cane 

 dyed black or red are worn. Ferrule-like pieces of tin 

 are often strung on these rattan coils, and strings of 

 beads are also worn around the waist. Ear ornaments 

 are generally of wood, and as large as a wine-cork. Both 

 men and women have holes pierced in their ears, but 

 these are not unfrequently utilised as cigarette-holders, 

 much in the same way as the Zulu Kaffirs at the Cape 



