66 VISIT TO THE VOLCANOES. 



proach we found the beauty of the village was best seen 

 at a distance, it being nothing but a miserable cluster of 

 huts with one larger than the rest constituting our hotel. 

 Immediately on arriving the people brought cups of hot water 

 for us to drink, but my companion explained to them that we 

 did not care for that kind of beverage, so they then brought 

 a dish of smoking hot potatoes, which was much more 

 acceptable. The air was so cold that we found it difficult to 

 keep ourselves warm till dinner time, and when that hour did 

 arrive we were agreeably surprised to find an excellent hot 

 repast placed before us. Our keen appetites would have 

 relished a much worse fare, but everything was very well 

 cooked and the dishes were piping hot. After satisfying 

 ourselves I attempted to sketch some of the natives who 

 crowded round us, but as soon as I got out my pencil they all 

 ran away. These Tengger people, as they are called from 

 the mountains they inhabit, are all Hindoos, the only tribe 

 in Java that has not been converted to Mohammedanism. 

 They are a fine robust race, very quiet and unoffending, and 

 strange to say they are not a bit better clothed than the 

 people of the plains, although they appear to suffer much from 

 the cold ; the sight of some of the children stark naked made 

 me shiver ; before we went to bed we were glad to warm 

 ourselves at a fire the natives had lighted before the door. I 

 had luckily brought with me a country made blanket, but with 

 that even, I could get but little sleep, and was glad enough 

 when morning dawned. 



Soon after sunrise we started for the Bromo. I 

 remained behind for a short time to make a hasty sketch of 

 the hill village; but as I heard Symond's horn high above me, 

 I hastened on, and at the spot where I overtook him the 



