138 CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE. 



About a mile from Gresik, at a bridge over a 

 considerable stream, which must, I suppose, be a 

 branch of the Kediri, we were met by a carriage 

 containing the Dutch and native authorities of the 

 district, with a large body of attendants on horse- 

 back, in their gayest dresses, with two or three 

 flags flying, and after stopping for a moment to 

 greet them, we entered the town in procession. 

 Before entering we rose onto some undulating 

 ground, and came down into the back of the town, 

 and passing through a green square in the centre, 

 which I had not seen before, and on which a game- 

 lang were clanging forth a welcome to the Resident, 

 we drew up at the Assistant-resident's house, under 

 a fine row of tamarinds, in the street leading down 

 to the quay. 



It appeared that both the authorities by whom 

 we were received were " acting " only. The late 

 Assistant-resident of Gresik had just been promoted 

 to the residency of Rembang, and the principal 

 Controller of the district was acting in his stead. 

 The late Regent, or native chief, had died three 

 days before, and his son-in-law, Regent of the infe- 

 rior neighbouring district of Lamongan, was now 

 acting as Regent of Gresik. He, with several 

 other of the principal natives, were candidates for 

 the vacant office, and on our alighting, M. Pieter- 

 matz, the Resident, held a kind of levee, each of the 

 native chiefs coming up and making a deep obei- 

 sance, and even kneeling and kissing his hand. 



