242 



THE MOLUCCAS. 



[chap. 



The Sultan of Batchian gave a dance in our honour upon our 

 return. It was held in a long, attap-roofed room open on three 

 sides, but capable of being closed by tatties of native cloth. At 

 the upper end was a semicircle of seats, the centre one occupied by 

 the Sultan, those to liis left reserved for the bare half dozen of 



GATE OF THE SULTAX S HOUSE, BATCHIA>r. 



Eiu-opeans living in Batcliian. Before our host a table was placed, 

 with a quantity of excellent Manila cheroots, and some curious 

 wines which claimed to have come from Bordeaux. The sides of 

 the room were lined with seats two or three deep, those opposite 

 the entrance being reserved for the ladies, and those facing them 

 for the gentlemen. Eank is everything even in the island of 

 Batchian, and a gap in the row of chairs served not so much to 



