240 IN MALAY FORESTS. 



" Soon the Otter returned, and there was a terrible 

 scene. Sir Peace of the Forest admitted all that 

 he had done, but the Otter would hear nothing in 

 extenuation, and went away to Nabi Sleman to 

 obtain redress. When she reached the presence of 

 the King she made the obeisance [which is made by 

 Malays by raising the two hands, pressed palm to 

 palm, to the level of the eyes] and said 



" ' Pardon, King ! Sir Peace of the Forest has 

 killed thy slave's children, and thy slave would hear 

 the order of the King.' 



" Nabi Sleman replied : * Never yet without a father 

 and a mother was child begotten ; and without an 

 audience of both the accuser and the accused, never 

 yet was justice done. Go, call Sir Peace of the 

 Forest.' 



" Then Nabi Sleman turned to his Bentaras [court 

 officials] and said : ' We will hear this case at the 

 palace by the mouth of the river. Let all the animals 

 attend.' 



" Later, in full state, Nabi Sleman repaired to the 

 palace. All the animals were present. On one side 

 of the palace was the sea, thronged with all the 

 sea-fishes; on the other side was the river, full of 

 the river-fishes; on the land side were the forest 

 animals; and the trees were full of birds and 

 butterflies. 



" Then Nabi Sleman, ruler under Allah of all the 

 animals, turned to the Otter and said, 'Tell thy 

 story.' 



"And the Otter made the obeisance and said: 'Par- 

 don, King ! This morning thy slave, before going 



