286 LOMBOCK. [chap. xij. 



under the Eajah' s eye, and in the sight of all men who 

 chose to see it. And when they were finished, they were 

 wrapped up in new silk and put away carefully until 

 they might be wanted. 



Now the journey to the mountain was in the time of 

 the east wind when no rain falls in Lombock. And soon 

 after the krisses were made it was the time of the rice 

 harvest, and the chiefs of districts and of villages brought 

 in their tax to the Eajah according to the number of 

 heads in their villages. And to those that wanted but 

 little of the full amount, the Eajah said nothing ; but 

 when those came who brought only half or a fourth part 

 of what was strictly due, he said to them mildly, "The 

 needles which you sent from your village were many more 

 than came from such- a- one's village, yet your tribute is 

 less than his ; go back and see who it is that has not 

 paid the tax." And the next year the produce of the tax 

 increased greatly, for they feared that the Eajah might 

 justly kill those who a second time kept back the right 

 tribute. And so the Eajah became very rich, and increased 

 the number of his soldiers, and gave golden jewels to his 

 wives, and bought fine black horses from the white- 

 skinned Hollanders, and made great feasts when his 

 children were born or were married; and none of the 

 Eajahs or Sultans among the Malays were so great or so 

 powerful as the Eajah of Lombock. 



