THE RAJAH'S DELIGHT. 407 



began tlie Biia Valley, wliicli, at a distance of ten or 

 twelve miles, expanded into a plain bordered on the 

 west by the high mountains of the Barizan chain, and 

 on the east l)y that of the Padang Lawas, which yet 

 farther on curved round to the southwest and united 

 with the Barizan in the gigantic peak of Mount Ta- 

 lang. Winding to and fro down the Bua Valley, was 

 occasionally seen the silver surface of the Sinamu, 

 and beside that and the other streams were many 

 broad overflowed sawas, which gave the valleys the 

 appearance of abounding with hundreds of little 

 lakes. This is the grandest and most comprehen- 

 sive view I have enjoyed in Sumatra, and this spot 

 is well named "The Rajah's Delight." At an eleva- 

 tion of about four thousand five hundred feet we 

 found it very chilly by night, not so much from the 

 difference of temperature, as indicated by the ther- 

 mometer, as on account of a strong wind and a thick 

 mist that enveloped us. This coffee-garden is consid- 

 ered the best in this region ; but the Resident informs 

 me that there are one or two at the same, or a some- 

 what greater elevation, on the Merapi, which are 

 finer. The large crops raised here are probably due to 

 the elevation and to the soil, which has been formed 

 from decomposing volcanic rock, and enriched by the. 

 vegetable mould that has accumulated for centuries. ' 

 April 4:th. — Continued on horseback along the 

 southern flanks of Mount Sago to its western side, 

 when we came to the head of a valley bounded by steep 

 acclivities. A thick mist unfortunately concealed the 

 view from this point, the finest, it is said, in the whole 

 region. A steep, zigzag path brought us down to a 



