482 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



cent view to tlie south. Near me were green rice- 

 fields waving in tlie sunshine, and far beneath these 

 was the large blue lake surrounded by high dark 

 mountains ; on their lofty peaks were gathering 

 black clouds, from which occasionally a heavy, sup- 

 pressed muttering rolled along, betokening the se- 

 verity of the coming storm. The next day I returned 

 to the governor's residence at Padang. 



Some time before I came from Java, a Malay 

 prau, in the employ of Chinamen, had visited the 

 Pagi Islands, to pui^chase cocoa-nut oil and tortoise- 

 shell, and had induced a man and woman, repre- 

 sented in the accompanying illustration, to go with 

 them to Padang. The sarong of the woman was made 

 of the leaves of the cocoa-nut palm and banana, torn 

 up into strips, and fastened at one end to a long 

 rattan, which was wound several times round the 

 waist. When these leaves are green, they form a 

 respectable covering, but, in the hot, tropical sun, 

 they soon wither into mere strings. For a baju a 

 similar garment of banana-leaves was used. The head- 

 dress was yet more peculiar. It was made of banana- 

 leaves, folded, as shown in the engraving, into the 

 form of a cocked hat. This is usually ornamented at 

 the top mth a tuft of grass, and it is always worn 

 crosswise. The only clothing of the man was a strip 

 of bark, about four inches wide, and ten or twelve 

 feet long, passing round the waist, and covering the 

 loins, as shown in the cut. Boys go entirely naked 

 until they are about eight years old. Neither the 

 man nor woman cared for rice, but they were fond of 

 bread, though they had never seen any before. Their 



