chap, xi.] SUSPICIONS. 261 



come, and that we had no sinister intentions whatever ; 

 and that we had not brought a letter from the "Anak 

 Agong," merely because we had thought it quite unne- 

 cessary. A long conversation in the Bali language then 

 took place, and questions were asked about my guns, and 

 what powder I had, and whether I used shot or bullets ; 

 also what the birds were for, and how I preserved them, 

 and what was done with them in England. Each of my 

 answers and explanations was followed by a low and serious 

 conversation which we could not understand, but the pur- 

 port of which we could guess. They were evidently quite 

 puzzled, and did not believe a word we had told them. 

 They then inquired if we were really English, and not 

 Dutch ; and although we strongly asserted our nationality, 

 they did not seem to believe us. 



After about an hour, however, they brought us some 

 supper (which was the same as the breakfast, but without 

 the fish), and after it some very weak coffee and pumpkins 

 boiled with sugar. Having discussed this, a second con- 

 ference took place ; questions were again asked, and the 

 answers again commented on. Between whiles lighter 

 topics were discussed. My spectacles (concave glasses) 

 were tried in succession by three or four old men, who 

 could not make out why they could not see through them, 

 and the fact no doubt was another item of suspicion 

 against me. My beard, too, was the subject of some 



