216 GUARD OF RECEPTION. [1844. 



amusing in the extreme, they clapped their hands in 

 raptures of astonishment, exclaiming, well done English ! 

 well done English ! English brothers, Gunung Taboor ! 



This ended, we had now to land, and pay our formal 

 visit to the Sultan, who had sent his state canopy, at- 

 tended by officers of the court to conduct us. It is 

 important to be somewhat minute in a first introduc- 

 tion to one of the Eastern potentates of Borneo. A 

 huge log of about two feet diameter, smoothed on the 

 upper surface, with its inner end well lodged in the mud, 

 formed our main path, or landing, to the entrance of the 

 stockade, where it was succeeded by a raised platform, on 

 which were arranged the Prime Minister, and the rest 

 of the administration ; the state canopy, a huge scarlet 

 silken umbrella fringed with gold ; the state musicians, 

 dressed in scarlet, and furnished with two squeaking 

 tabors ; two drummers, in the same uniform, with English 

 brass drums (pilfered from us at Balambangan), furnished 

 the guard of reception. The Prime Minister placing 

 himself on my left side, taking my left hand in his, and 

 passing his right hand under my right arm, conducted 

 me under the said canopy ; the other officers, similarly 

 supported, following in the same order, to the sound of 

 the squeaking tabors and drums, until we reached the hah 1 

 of audience ; a large building, on the right of the palace 

 enclosure, open on all sides, whilst the flooring was 

 covered with neat mats, and gaily painted Chinese chests, 

 the latter, furnished with small yellow cloths, with scarlet 

 patterns embroidered with gold, serving as seats. 



The Sultan, a fine, well-shaped, intelligent young man, 

 of about five feet eleven, and thirty years of age, most 



