66 THE SULU ISLANDS. [chap. 



Ml of Sulu warriors, we off-saddled the horses, aud entered the 

 house. It consisted — as do most of the houses in Sulu, even of 

 those of high rank — of a single large room. In the centre was a 

 raised platform suiTOunded with curtains. This was the bedroom 

 of the Pangluna and Ms two wives, the remainder of the apartment, 

 which was carpeted with grass mats, forming his living and reception- 

 room. Spears and guns were arranged on one side, and against the 

 wall a few slightly-raised platforms served as sleeping-places for 

 his head men or guests. We took possession of two or tlu'ee of these 

 berths, where we had often slept before, and, producing our supper, 

 discussed the events of the day. The Panglima, we learnt, had 

 gained a complete victory. Thirty houses had been burnt, many 

 of the enemy killed, and a considerable quantity of loot obtained, 

 and, concluding that our host would be in the best of tempers for 

 a hunt on the following morning, we chatted away merrily over 

 our chocolate and pipes. 



Presently the curtains opened and the Panglima appeared, and 

 squatted down without a word upon the dais. A glance at him 

 told us that he was not in a condition to be trifled with, for he 

 looked as black as thunder and took no notice whatever of us. It 

 was in vain that we made our salutations, in vain that our clever 

 little interpreter clad our congratulations on his \'ictory in all the 

 poetic unagery of the East. Conversation falls flat if carried on on 

 one side with a series of giimts, and we soon saw that it would be 

 wisest for us to retire for the night as quietly as we coidd. 



The next day began with an amusing incident. An old woman 

 entered the room with such a guilty look and melodramatic step 

 that the only one of our party who was awake immediately " played 

 'possum." Having satisfied herself by close inspection that we were 

 all asleep, she made for oui' bag, abstracted a Turkish towel, and, 

 tucking it under her sai'ong, disappeared with great rapidity. Soon 

 after tliis little occurrence the rest of our party woke, and the 

 Panglima also appeared. Neither sleep nor the slaughter' of his 

 enemies had exercised any softening effect uj)on him, and he looked 



