100 Timehri. 
Sahit had no under-study. Wan Mat and I hurried to the house where he was, 
and found him evidently in great pain and unable to get up. I made an examina- 
tion of him, and, from his symptoms and information I received of his doings, I 
came to the conclusion that he was merely suffering froma severe attack of indi- 
gestion. Being provided with a small travelling medicine-chest I administered the 
remedy I thought would meet the case, and in a short time was gratified to find 
he was free from pain. But it was of course impossible for him to take his part that 
night. Disappointment was universal ; Kismit however was the solace. 
Just as everyone was leaving, Punghulu Ibrahim appeared on the scene, fol- 
lowed by one of his men. We were told that this man had agreed to take the 
place of Sahit, that he was given to acting, and, from frequently coming in con- 
tact with these wandering players, had learned most of the comic parts, a role he 
fancied. The likeness of Chat, as he was named, to Sahit, was remarkable, and 
as a solution of the difficulty all voted that the performance should proceed. 
Torches were relit, the audience took their seats, and the orchestra played the 
“overture,” a wild air, noisy, yet not unmelodious in some of the passages. 
Malay drums are demonstrative, and the vehemence of the beaters of them pro- 
vided plenty of sound. The small-stringed instruments now and then were given 
a chance and their wailing notes were effective. At a specially crescendo passage 
the leading lady stepped torward, arrayed in all the glory of a most elaborate 
costume, and began a soliloquy in which she appealed to the fairies to help her in 
her trouble. Her father insisted on her marrying an ugly old man, whose 
appearance she detested. Of course, there was a young man who had gained her 
affections. Chat came in and offered help, stating that he was sent by the fairies 
to come to her rescue. The ancient suitor followed, and his actions afforded Chat 
full scope for making fun of him. This he did with such great effect that the 
ancient swain went off ina violent rage, uttering all sorts of threats. The heroine 
and Chat also left, and the hero entered, searching hither and thither for his lady 
love, who naturally soon appeared, chased by a male relative and the old lover, 
who was attacked by the hero. A desperate struggle ensued, and the combatants 
disappeared in company with the relatives, who were bent on seizing the hero. 
The heroine was left to herself, plunged in grief. Chat then appeared again, 
and tried to assuage her grief, approaching and taking her hand. Pity isakin to 
love, it is said, all the world over ; so our comic man, beginning with pity, ended 
by making violent love on his own account, and brought down the house by the 
vehemence of his wooing. He contrasted the mimicking airs of the one lover with 
his own manly bearing, and the swagger of the other with an upright honest 
attitude, at last exclaiming, “0! fairest of the fair, who can compare with thee ? 
Come with me. I will leave all. I have a nice little nest for thee. My arms 
shall shield thee from all harm.” He was proceeding in this strain, when a woman 
suddenly stood up at the side, bearing a child aloft in her arms. The next 
moment the unfortunate infant was flung at the feet of the heroine, the woman 
exclaiming, ‘‘ Take him ; but you must take the child too,” adding words of any- 
thing but a complimentary nature. This acting was to us delightful, so realistic, 
a triumph of emotion. The applause was universal, our followers shouting till 
they were hoarse. 
