362 JOURNAL OF A VISIT 



his dignity. It was made of common wood, and was 

 very dirty, and I should have remained a stranger to the 

 mystery of its appearance, had not a gust of wind through 

 the crevices of the room raised one of the white and 

 beautiful mats which covered its unsightliness. The foot- 

 stool was a common deal box, as old as the chair, and 

 like it covered with mats. The hangings of the room 

 were crimson and white cloth. After Mr. Williamson 

 had made some remarks to the assembled people on Mr. 

 Brooke's intention in sending this " friendly epistle," we 

 adjourned, by especial desire, to the boat in which the 

 Patingi lived ; which, after some trouble, on account of 

 the difficulty of walking on the sticks which had to serve 

 for paths through the mud, we reached. 



I had fallen from one of the sticks doubtless much to 

 the amusement of the people, who, however, like all 

 Malays, were much too well bred to express it visibly 

 into a puddle of dirty water which had reached to my 

 knees, so that, having been dressed entirely in white, I 

 presented myself to the chief in mottled attire. The 

 Dattu received us very kindly ; he had been anxiously 

 waiting for our visit ; and, having read the letter, told 

 us how much he was delighted with Mr. Brooke for 

 having sent it, more especially that he had caused Mr. 

 Williamson to be the bearer of it, of whom, as Mr. 

 Brooke's secretary, he had often heard from his people, 

 by whom he was much liked. The chief is a stout man 

 of about fifty years of age, with dark complexion and an 

 intelligent expression of countenance ; but his appearance 

 is spoiled by his having no teeth, and by his being in the 



