SEPT. 1770 NATIVE FEASTS—ARMY AND ARMS 355 
difficult to conceive how the strength of man alone, 
unassisted by engines, had been able to transport them to 
the top of the hill where they now stand, were there not in 
Europe so many far grander instances of the perseverance as 
well as the strength of our own forefathers. These stones serve 
for a very peculiar use; upon the death of a Radja a general 
feast is proclaimed throughout his dominions, and in conse- 
quence all his subjects meet about the stones. Every living 
creature that can be caught is now killed, and the feast 
lasts a longer or shorter number of weeks or months accord- 
ing to the stock of provisions the kingdom happens to be 
furnished with at the time. The stones serve for tables, on 
which whole buffaloes are served up. After this madness 
is over, the whole kingdom is obliged to fast and live upon 
syrup and water till the next crop; nor are they able to eat 
any flesh till some years after, when the few animals which 
have escaped the general slaughter and been preserved by 
policy, or which they have acquired from neighbouring 
kingdoms, have sufficiently increased their species. 
The five kingdoms, says Mr. Lange, of which this island 
consists, have been from time immemorial not only at 
peace, but in strict alliance with each other ; notwithstand- 
ing which they are of a warlike disposition,—constant 
friends but implacable enemies,—and have always courage- 
ously defended themselves against foreign invaders. They 
are able to raise on a very short notice 7300 men, armed 
with muskets, lances, spears, and targets: of these the 
different kingdoms bear their different proportions — 
Laat 2600, Seba 2000, Regeewa 1500, Timo 800, and 
Massara 400. Besides the arms before mentioned, every 
man is furnished with a large chopping-knife, like a 
straightened wood-bill, but much heavier, which must be a 
terrible weapon, if these people should have spirit enough 
to come to close quarters. Mr. Lange upon another occa- 
sion took an opportunity of telling us that they heave their 
lances with surprising dexterity, being able at the distance 
of sixty feet to strike a man’s heart and pierce him through. 
How far these dreadful accounts of their martial prowess 
