MARRIAGE CUSTOMS 155 



deal of handshaking he returned to the Istana, where 

 he remained in his own apartments, guarded by sixteen 

 women ; and from then until the following Thursday, 

 according to the Mohammedan rite, he was not allowed 

 outside. On that day a second and far more imposing 

 ceremony took place, the Crown Prince appearing in 

 most gorgeous apparel of cloth of gold, with the palms 

 of his hands, his nails, and his feet, which were bare, 

 dyed a brilliant red, according to Malay custom. 



On the following Tuesday evening the bride made 

 her first appearance to the public, accompanied by 

 the bridegroom ; for on this occasion they were to 

 partake of the public bath, a custom never omitted, 

 and the most essential part of a Malay royal wed- 

 ding. This bath resembles somewhat a monument, 

 the summit of which is reached by short, steep steps, 

 upon which the royal retinue of women were seated. 

 At the top, and surmounted by a gilded dome, a foun- 

 tain is in such a way manipulated as to throw water 

 over the whole structure from top to bottom. Conse- 

 quently, when the prince and his bride arrived beneath 

 the dome, water, which had been laid on from a reser- 

 voir some two miles distant, was suddenly started and 

 the whole assembly drenched to the skin. 



The beauty of this function, which took place at 

 night, was greatly enhanced by the fact that the whole 

 scene was lit up by thousands of fairy lights and 

 Japanese lanterns in all colours. After a gorgeous 

 display of fireworks and the Sultan's national anthem, 

 performed by the bands in attendance, the royal couple 

 descended and the nuptials were complete, and the 

 Crown Prince and his bride were considered man and 

 wife. 





