A DESERTED VILLAGE. 415 



navigable river, with numerous islets dotting its surface, 

 and having the banks clothed with the most superb 

 timber-trees, and the most beautiful and luxuriant vege- 

 tation imaginable. 



In the course of our progress up the river, we came to 

 a deserted village, and while the captain was observing, I 

 joined an exploring expedition, and examined the country 

 around. Our attention being directed to a building on a 

 hill surmounting the ruined hamlet, we scaled the height, 

 and found it to consist of the tomb of a Rajah or other 

 great man. It was neatly palisadoed round, and covered 

 with a kedjang roof, while, in the interior, over the grave, 

 was a faded canopy of silk. In the course of our scrutiny 

 a large and handsome Snake was espied among the rafters, 

 and an animated hunt ensued, which ended, however, in 

 the escape of the serpent. In our eagerness to obtain the 

 specimen, the shed was unroofed, and, as I was anxious 

 to ascertain the mode of sepulture among the Malays, I 

 got permission from the captain to dis-inter the Rajah, 

 and examine the grave. Some men being placed at my 

 disposal, we proceeded in our unholy work, and, at about 

 four feet from the surface, came to a board placed in a 

 diagonal manner across the shaft, on carefully removing 

 which we perceived a square lateral chamber, or cavity, 

 where the mortal remains of the deceased " Orang Kaya" 

 were reposing. The skeleton was that of a very old man, 

 and is now in the Museum of the College of Surgeons. 

 Not a vestige of clothing, not even the wrapper of white 

 cloth which is said to be generally employed, nor any 

 arms, amulets, or ornaments of any kind were found in 

 the grave. The body was laid upon the right side, with 



