268 LOMBOCK. [chap. xi. 



eating. He was a youth of about fifteen, and had already 

 three wives. All wore the kris, or Malay crooked dagger, 

 on the beauty and value of which they greatly pride them- 

 selves. A companion of the Bajah's had one with a 

 golden handle, in which were set twenty-eight diamonds 

 and several other jewels. He said it had cost him 700 1. 

 The sheaths are of ornamental wood and ivory, often 

 covered on one side with gold. The blades are beautifully 

 veined with white metal worked into the iron, and they 

 are kept very carefully. Every man without exception 

 carries a kris, stuck behind into the large waist-cloth 

 which all wear, and it is generally the most valuable 

 piece of property he possesses. 



A few days afterwards our long-talked-of excursion to 

 Gunong Sari took place. Our party was increased by the 

 captain and supercargo of a Hamburg ship loading with 

 rice for China. We were mounted on a very miscellaneous 

 lot of Lombock ponies, which we had some difficulty in 

 supplying with the necessaiy saddles, &c. ; and most of us 

 had to patch up our girths, bridles, or stirrup-leathers, as 

 best we could. We passed through Mataram, where we 

 were joined by our friend Gusti Gadioca, mounted on a 

 handsome black horse, and riding as all the natives do, 

 without saddle or stirrups, using only a handsome saddle- 

 cloth and very ornamental bridle. About three miles 

 further, along pleasant byways, brought us to the place. 



