158 CELEBES. [chap. 



the club, with its zinc-topped tables set out cafe-fashion beneath 

 the trees. It is called the " Harmonic," as is every Dutch club in 

 Malaysia, and within all is dark and cool and deserted during the 

 mid-day heat. The servants are curled up asleep behind the bar or 

 in the corners of the rooms, and would stare in dumb astonishment 

 at the apparition of a European, for the early business of the day 

 over, and the rijst tafel or lunch despatched, the white residents 

 get into their pyjamas, and take a siesta till three or four o'clock. 

 A couple of hours or so are then devoted to business, and towards 

 sunset the male portion of the population meet at the " Harmonic " 

 to chat and drink 'pV^J*^^- Billiards is the most violent exercise 

 taken ; cricket, bowls, and lawn-tennis are unknown. 



While we were at Macassar the King of Goa gave a house- 

 warmincc, to which most of the Dutch and German residents were 

 invited. This monarch, although on friendly terms with the Dutch, 

 occasions them a considerable amount of inconvenience from the 

 proximity of his dominions to the town, and robberies by his 

 people are not uncommon. We drove over in company with some 

 of our Dutch friends through mile after mile of padi field and dense 

 clouds of dust, which the excessive heat did not render more bear- 

 able. As we neared our destination the large number of natives 

 proceeding in the same direction betokened a general holiday. 

 The palace, which was built of wood, was the work of a Chinese 

 architect, and its exterior was gay with gold and colours. We 

 entered a large room on the first floor by means of a covered stair- 

 way, and were duly introduced to royalty. The king and members 

 of his family were conspicuous by wearing plain black satin sarongs 

 without trace of ornamentation, but their hajus and caps were gold- 

 laced, and they carried krisses with beautifully- worked gold sheaths. 

 Several Dutch officials and their wives had preceded us, and 

 numerous servants passed noiselessly from guest to guest handing 

 trays of sweetmeats, tea, and coffee. Various hangers-on, naked 

 save their caps and sarongs, squatted in the corners of the room, 

 and the grandchildren of the king, clad in little else except 



