214 RAJAH OF JOHORE. 



considered to have been formerly a leader of 

 pirates ; and when we saw a brig he was build- 

 ing, it naturally occurred to our minds whether 

 he was about to resort to his old practices. We 

 proposed visiting this personage ; and, on ar- 

 riving at the gateway, were met by a peon, who, 

 after delivering our message to the rajah, re- 

 quested us to wait a few minutes, until his 

 Highness was ready. We did not wait long, for 

 the rajah soon appeared, and took his seat, in 

 lieu of a throne, upon the highest step of those 

 which led to his dwelling. His appearance was 

 remarkable : he appeared a man of about forty 

 years of age — teeth perfect, but quite black, from 

 the custom of chewing the betel constantly. His 

 head was large ; and his shaven cranium af- 

 forded an interesting phrenological treat. He 

 was deformed ; not more than five feet in height, 

 of large body, and short, thick, and deformed 

 legs, scarcely able to support the ponderous 

 trunk. His neck was thick and short, and his 

 head habitually stooped ; his face bloated, with 

 the lower lip projecting, and large eyes pro- 

 truding, one of them having a cataractal appear- 

 ance. He was dressed in a short pair of cotton 

 drawers, a sarong of cotton cloth came across 

 the shoulders in the form of a scarf, and tar- 

 nished, embroidered slippers, and handkerchief 



