418 rajah's habits. 



further inland, — we were desired to enter a house 

 to rest ourselves : by an invitation to enter, is 

 only meant being seated in the verandah; for 

 we did not, or rather were not permitted to, in- 

 trude ourselves into any other parts of the dwell- 

 ing. At this place cocoa-nut water was again 

 offered as a refreshment. We requested to be 

 taken further in the interior of the country ; but, 

 although a refusal was never given, yet we found 

 we were invariably taken, by other paths, back 

 to the place from whence we came. We became 

 at last, from this and other circumstances, con- 

 vinced that our Moor friends were fearful of ex- 

 posing themselves to the krisses of the " Hill 

 people," from whom they appear to have con- 

 quered some portion of the country, establishing 

 themselves as traders. 



We returned after a short ramble, and were 

 conducted into the bazaar, and seated with 

 a semicircle of the natives before us, all staring 

 quietly and decorously at the '''■white lions.'' 

 From this place we adjourned to the fort, 

 near the rajah's residence, where we waited 

 for the appearance of his highness, who had not 

 yet risen from his couch. The old minister gave 

 us some account of the rajah's habits ; one of 

 which was, that he lies in bed until three p. m., 

 except when there is any particular business. 



