318 THE SMOOTH-LEGGED BANTAM. 



very rarely) both hands and feet. If, after the loss of one or 

 both hands and feet, they still prove incorrigible, (for they are 

 many of them such very Rogues and so arch that they will 

 steal with their Toes,) then they are banished to Pulo Wai/, 

 during their lives. 



" On Pulo Way there are none but this sort of Cattle : and 

 though they all of them want one or both hands, yet they so 

 order matters, that they can row very well, and do many 

 things to admiration, whereby they are able to get a liveli- 

 hood ; for if they have no hands, they will get somebody or 

 other to fasten Ropes or Withes about their oars, so as to 

 leave Loops wherein they may put the stumps of their Arms ; 

 and therewith they will pull an oar lustily. They that have 

 one hand can do well enough ; and of these you shall see a 

 a great many, even in the City. 



" Neither is this sort of punishment peculiar to the Achinese 

 Government, 1 but, probably, used by the other Princes of this 

 Island, and on the Island of Java also, especially at Bantam. 

 They formerly, when the King of Bantam was in his pro- 

 sperity, deprived men of the right hand for a Theft, and may 

 still, for aught I know. I knew a Dutch-man so served : he 

 was a Seaman, belonging to one of the King of Bantam's 

 Ships." Dampier's Voyages, vol. ii. p. 138. 



The same king (an. 1688) expected to receive from his sub- 

 jects a very unusual mark of respect. " The Queen of Achin, 

 as 'tis said, is always an old Maid, chosen out of the Royal 

 Family. "What ceremonies are used at the chusing her I 

 know not : Nor who are the Electors ; but I suppose they are 

 the Oronkeys (Great Lords). After she is chosen, she is in a 

 manner confined to her Palace ; for by report, she seldom goes 

 abroad, neither is she seen by any People of inferiour rank 

 and quality ; but only by some of her Domesticks : except that 

 once a Year she is drest all in white, and placed on an Ele- 

 phant, and so rides to the river in state to wash herself : but 



