406 rajah's residence. 



The habitations in the rajah's inclosure were 

 raised from the ground, (which is the usual Malay 

 style of constructing houses,) and were ascended 

 by means of rude bamboo ladders. They are 

 formed, for the most part, of bamboo, and 

 thatched with palm leaves ; but one of larger 

 size and neater style was the immediate residence 

 of the rajah and his wives ; the young rajah 

 having, as we were informed, two concubines, 

 eighteen years of age each, — and a child, now 

 four years old, betrothed to him as his intended 

 wife. Near the habitations the cocoa, plantain, 

 orange, mango, and custard apple trees grew, 

 shading them by the grandeur and profusion of 

 their foliage. There was also a house (which 

 from the commencement, being now in frame, 

 appeared intended to be of some extent,) which 

 had been commenced by the old rajah not long 

 before his death ; but the building was obliged 

 to be discontinued by the young rajah, on his 

 succession, from a want of the necessary funds 

 for its construction. 



At one part of the inclosure a bamboo ladder 

 ascended to a little elevation, which brought us 

 to a plank, over which we passed into the fort 

 adjoining the residence of the rajah, and was 

 mounted with several large brass guns, most of 

 which had the arms of the East India Company 



