58 TRAPPING WILD ANIMALS 



never been able to gather enough money to have 

 the building completed ; but, at that, it was the most 

 imposing house in Trengganu. 



An hour later, I started out with AH and the 

 Chinese boy for the palace, to pay my respects to 

 the Sultan and make another request for an inter- 

 view. At the gate I was met by a tunku, who told 

 me that the Sultan would not receive me. I re- 

 turned to the trader's house and slept through the 

 hot afternoon. When evening came, I went again 

 to the palace and met with the same reception. 



Twice a day for the entire week I called at the 

 palace. I appeared to be making no headway, but 

 I had been associated with the Malays long enough 

 to know that the Sultan could not bear the strain 

 much longer. Also, I knew that if I gave a tunku 

 the least inkling of my purpose, all my hopes of 

 hunting in Trengganu would be wrecked. 



The Sultan gave in at last; he sent word to the 

 gate that he would receive me, and I was ushered 

 into the "reception room" of the palace. The Sultan, 

 a middle-aged, scholarly-looking man, was waiting 

 for me, with his retinue squatted around him. I 

 gave him my card. 



"What is it?" he asked. 



"My name," I replied, bowing. 



"What country are you from?" 



"America." 



He looked surprised and asked if I was English, 

 French or Dutch; he thought that all white men 



