238 TIT I', RMI'imoRS PALACE. 



numerous princes of the royal blood, is allowed to enter 

 unless naked to the waist, sarong and turban forming 

 their entire apparel. 



As a native durbar in the lieart of Java is one of 

 the most curious ceremonies one can possibly behold in 

 this our nineteenth century, I cannot resist giving a 

 detailed account of it ; for beyond the presence of the 

 European element, T don't suppose that anything has 

 been changed in the whole business for the last 500 

 years, or even longer. 



After passing the outer gate of the Imperial resi- 

 dence, we were marched through no less than five court- 

 yards, separated from each other by walls covered with 

 creepers, and containing gardens, one-storied buildings, 

 and colonnades. The broad path we were threading 

 was lined by Dutch and native soldiers, until at last we 

 reached the pleasure ground surrounding the palace, an 

 extensive pile of buildings open to the front, and giving 

 admittance to a large square verandah, now used as the 

 durbar hall, its roof supported by gilded and coloured 

 pillars. Here a wonderful sight presented itself, not 

 exceeded even by the most extravagant scenes in the 

 fairy land of our nursery tales : an immense garden 

 filled with all the richness of tropical vegetation, mag- 

 nificent palms, plantains, and fern trees, flowers of 

 every hue and fantastically festooned creepers, and 



