190 LOMBOCK. 



On the second day they left the last village behind them and 

 entered the wild country that surrounds the great mountain, 

 and rested in the huts that had been prepared for them on the 

 banks of a stream of cold and sparkling water. And the Ra- 

 jah's hunters, armed with long and heavy guns, went in search 

 of deer and wild bulls in the surrounding woods, and brought 

 home the meat of both in the early morning, and sent it on in 

 advance to prepare the midday meal. On the third day they 

 advanced as far as horses could go, and encamped at the foot 

 of high rocks, among which narrow pathways only could be 

 found to reach the mountain-top. And on the fourth morning 

 when the Rajah set out, he was accompanied only by a small 

 party of priests and princes, with their immediate attendants ; 

 and they toiled wearily up the rugged way, and sometimes 

 were carried by their servants, till they passed up above the 

 great trees, and then among the thorny bushes, and above them 

 again on to the black and burnt rock of the highest part of 

 the mountain. 



And when they were near the summit the Rajah ordered 

 them all to halt, while he alone went to meet the great spirit 

 on the very peak of the mountain. So he went on with two 

 boys only who carried his sirih and betel, and soon reached ■ 

 the top of the mountain among great rocks, on the edge of the 

 great gulf whence issue forth continually smoke and vapor. 

 And the Rajah asked for sirih, and told the boys to sit down 

 under a rock and look down the mountain, and not to move 

 till he returned to them. And as they were tired, and the 

 sun was warm and pleasant, and the rock sheltered them from 

 the cold wind, the boys fell asleep. And the Rajah went a 

 little way on under another rock ; and he was tired, and fhe 

 sun was warm and pleasant, and he too fell asleep. 



And those who were waiting for the Rajah thought him a 

 long time on the top of the mountain, and thought the great 

 spirit must have much to say, or might perhaps want to keep 

 him on the mountain always, or perhaps he had missed his 

 way in coming down again. And they were debating whether 

 they should go and search for him, when they saw him coming 

 down with the two boys. And when he met them he looked 

 very grave, but said nothing ; and then all descended together, 

 and the procession returned as it had come ; and the Rajah went 



