SOOLOO. 359 



we were treated to chocolate and negus in gilt-edge tumblers, with 

 small stale cakes, which had been brought from Manilla. 



After we had sat some time I was informed that Mr. Dana missed 

 his bowie-knife pistol, which he had for a moment laid down on a 

 chest. I at once came to the conclusion that it had been stolen, and 

 as the theft had occurred in the Datu's house, I determined to hold 

 him responsible for it, and gave him at once to understand that I 

 should do so, informing him that the pistol must be returned before 

 the next morning, or he must take the consequences. This threw 

 him into some consternation, and by my manner he felt that I was 

 serious. 



Captain Hudson and myself, previous to our return on board, 

 visited the principal parts of the town. The Chinese quarter is sepa- 

 rated by a body of water, and has a gateway that leads to a bridge. 

 The bridge is covered by a roof, and on each side of it are small 

 shops, which are open in front, and thus expose the goods they con- 

 tain. In the rear of the shops were the dwellings of the dealers. 

 This sort of bazaar contained but a very scanty assortment, and the 

 goods were of inferior quality. 



We visited some blacksmith-shops, where they were manufacturing 

 krises and spears. These shops were open sheds; the fire was made 

 upon the ground, and two wooden cylinders, whose valves were in the 

 bottom, served for bellows; when used, they had movable pistons 

 which were worked by a man on an elevated seat, and answered the 

 purpose better than could have been expected. 



The kris is a weapon in which this people take great pride ; it is 

 of various shapes and sizes, and is invariably worn from infancy to 

 old age ; they are generally wavy in their blades, and are worn in 

 wooden scabbards, which are neatly made and highly polished. This 

 weapon is represented in the tail-piece to this chapter. 



The market was well stocked with fruit and fish. Among the 

 former the durian seemed to predominate ; this was the first time we 

 had seen it. It has a very disagreeable odour, as if decayed, and 

 appears to emit a sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which I observed black- 

 ened silver. Some have described this fruit as delicious, but if the 

 smell is not enough, the taste in my opinion will convince any one of 

 the contrary. 



Mr. Brackenridge made the following list of their fruits : Durian, 

 Artocarpus integrifolia, Melons, water and musk, Oranges, man- 

 darin and bitter, Pine-apples, Carica papaya, Mangosteen, Bread- 



