270 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



tions making for the feast. At length long slips of 

 chintz were brought in, and laid in front of the lines 

 of visitors these were our tablecloths. On these 

 were placed cakes of bread, which were brought in by 

 thirty slaves, marching round in procession. Taking 

 the time from the senior officer of the household, we 

 tore up these cakes and ate them. The thirty slaves 

 again entered in procession, each carrying two small 

 china plates, which contained preserved fruits. After 

 this another procession : the thirty slaves entered, 

 carrying each a large bowl which contained a sort of 

 national soup, which had such a very objectionable 

 appearance that I did not touch it. The next pro- 

 cession of slaves brought in dishes of pillaw, which 

 was not well cooked ; and on their being removed, a 

 great number of slaves entered bearing raisins and 

 dried plums, which they deposited in front of the 

 spot where his majesty was supposed to be still sitting, 

 meaning by this to show that those who received them 

 should understand that they came direct from the 

 hands of majesty. On some of these being handed 

 to us, Brutus whispered to me to take a large handful 

 and pocket them, which of course I did. A great 

 number of loaves of sugar were now brought in, and 

 placed in the centre of the square. About a dozen of 

 these were split into two equal portions, but all the 

 rest were broken into small pieces : the half is only 

 given to men of rank, and Brutus appeared gratified 

 at our receiving this distinction, and begged me to 



