242 TEERENTATTOX OF GIFTS. 



tentedly on fine straw matting, a sarong forming tlicir 

 sole attire, excepting a profusion of diamonds and other 

 precious stones. 



Upon a sign from the Emperor the whole company- 

 rose, and filed off in procession to the Pondopo, or Hall 

 of Justice, headed by the women, carrying banners a,nd 

 swords of state, and the princes ; then followed his 

 Majesty, hand in hand with the Dutch Resident, who 

 by his bulk quite overshadowed the former; and, lastly, 

 the European visitors and the noble crew of natives. We 

 thus marched, to the tune of a Dutch regimental band 

 through lines of soldiers in the unique uniform already 

 described, into the third court, and up the steps of a 

 large, open building. Here everybody was accommo- 

 dated as before ; and now the natives came forward, 

 one by one, to the foot of the steps, presenting their 

 offerings, which they did kneeling and in most humble 

 attitudes : these consisted of fruit, cakes, and sweet- 

 meats, on enormous trays, and piles of rice and other 

 produce of the soil, carried upon mats slung between 

 two long bamboos ; they seemed perfect cart-loads, 

 which, having been graciously accepted as indicated by 

 his Majesty's almost imperceptibly raising his eyebrows, 

 filed off to the royal store-house. This took up con- 

 siderable time, and after the novelty had worn off it 

 became a rather tedious business ; still, the effect was 



