216 RAJAH OF JOHORE. 



at Singapore, and it was situated exterior to the 

 old boundary of his domain. We were ushered 

 into the neAV house, the rooms of which were 

 furnished after the English style, with wall- 

 lamps, bookcase, (minus books,) tables, chairs, 

 &c. ; ascending to the upper room, chairs 

 were placed for our accommodation, and the 

 punka was caused to be moved to cool our frames. 

 When we were all seated, a yellow painted 

 armed -chair was placed at the head of the room, 

 as a regal seat for his highness ; his prime 

 minister came to us, and, as we thought, seemed 

 puzzled for what so large a party of Europeans 

 could require an audience. 



At last a messenger entered the room, and, 

 squatting down near the minister, whispered 

 something to him, which it seemed was a desire 

 that we should adjourn from this to the old 

 thatched residence of the Tuan rajali. We ad- 

 journed, therefore ; and, on arriving at the old 

 residence, the rajah, one of the greatest cu- 

 riosities of the human race perhaps ever seen, 

 waddled, bending with infirmities, and seated 

 his carcase in the aforesaid yellow chair, which 

 had been brought from the other house, and 

 placed in a suitable situation ; and there, with 

 his corpulent body completely jammed between 

 the arms of the chair, received us in a most gra- 

 cious and condescending manner, if such a 



