IN SUMATliA. 147 



and with a headcloth tied about his temples in the fashion of 

 his district ; but from the waist upwards naked. 



The centre of attraction is the long line of maidenliood, 

 glittering in silver and gold of native workmanship. - The 

 hair of each girl, neatly arranged and odoriferous from abun- 

 dance of cofoa-nut and cajeput oil, is tied in a knot behind 

 and transfixed by a high-backed comb overlaid with gold 

 plates ; her head is crowned with a coronet {Uggar) of gold, of 

 form and magnificence according to her pangkaf; a shawl 

 worn sash-wise hangs from the shoulder to the ground, while 

 from above the middle hangs a rich sarong, or petticoat, of 

 home-grown and spun silk, interwoven with gold thread, and 

 decorated with hundreds of small coins of the Dutch mint, 

 which jingle pleasingly as she dances. Above this the body is 

 girt with a silk slendang, half concealing the breasts. The 

 arms, shoulders, and chest are bare, except for the nume- 

 rous gold or silver collars and necklets and bracelets, of 

 patterns peculiar to her marga, with which she is loaded. 

 Often these collars are entirely composed of the large dollar 

 pieces of Spain, Holland, and Mexico, and of English half- 

 crowns. Of the highest-born maidens, the arms from the 

 wrist to the elbow are almost concealed by the display of pure 

 "barbaric gold," for they may wear as many bracelets as 

 they choose; while their sisters less fortunate in the matter 

 of blood ajid rank must conform to the regulation number cor- 

 responding to their degree. The breast is overlaid witli 

 crescent-shaped gold plates, suspended in tiers ; the waist is 

 encircled by a belt of one of the precious metals secured by an 

 elaborately-carved buckle of the same material. The rather 

 bony fingers are encircled with many rings, and even the 

 nails are lengthened by additions of silver into talon-like 

 claws ; so that altogether the Lampong maiden presents a 

 dazzling appearance in the dim uncertain light of a lamplit 

 Ealai. The cost of such a costume represents no mean sum ; 

 it is not uncommon for a girl to have as much as £100 worth 

 of ornaments about her person at a festival. 



When all is ready, the ever monotonous music commences, 

 and the Master of the Ceremonies, whose place is between the 

 two lines, at a signal from the chief calls— and his directions 

 must be implicitly obeyed— on two of the maidens to dance. 



