240 ROYAL COSTUME. 



liis face (luriiii^- tlie wliole of the reception, exceptiniif 

 those of lus heavy-painted eyebrows, by a movement of 

 which lie appeared to give his assent wlien appHed to, 

 advanced from the interior of the palace, which seemed 

 of great depth, the inner portion of which was 

 partitioned oif by an enormous screen, or purdah. 

 Behind this the women of his harem were seen moving 

 about, trying to get a glimpse of what was going on 

 beyond. His Majesty took his seat in the middle of 

 the open hall, where two arm-chairs had been placed on 

 a raised dais, one for him and the other for the Dutch 

 Resident; and after the presentation of the Europeans, 

 the latter took their seats on chairs placed in a semi- 

 circle to the right and left of the central group. The 

 Emperor, who, by the way, is an inveterate opium 

 smoker (and he quite looks it), was clad in a magnificent 

 gold embroidered sarong reaching to his heels, a dark 

 blue silk jacket braided with gold lace, three stars 

 pinned to his breast, and a pale blue semi-trans- 

 parent head-covering of sugar-loaf shape, with the 

 point cut off the upper half: the latter had all 

 the appearance of being made of blue silk or 

 paper, steeped in oil and stiffened, or else of gold- 

 beaters' skin, on a blue foundation, to ensure light- 

 ness. Immediately on his right kneeled a handsome 

 young woman, with a most beautifully shaped arm. 



