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S O O L O O. 
and on our way saw several piratical prahus apparently laid up. 
Twenty of these were counted, of about thirty tons burden, evidently 
built for sea-vessels, and capable of mounting one or two long guns. 
We landed at a small streamlet, and walked a short distance to the 
Datu’s house, which is of large dimensions and rudely built on piles 
which raise it about six feet above the ground, and into which we 
were invited. The house of the Datu contains one room, part of 
which is screened off to form the apartment of his wife. Nearly in 
the centre is a raised dais, eight or ten feet square, under which are 
stowed all his valuables, packed in chests and Chinese trunks. Upon 
this dais are placed mats for sleeping, with cushions, pillows, &c.; and 
over it is a sort of canopy, hung around with fine chintz or muslin. 
The dais was occupied by the Datu, who is, next to the Sultan, the 
greatest man of this island. He at once came from it to receive us, 
and had chairs provided for us near his sanctum. After we were 
seated, he again retired to his lounge. The Datu is small in person, 
and emaciated in form, but has a quick eye and an intelligent counte¬ 
nance. He lives, as he told me, with all his goods around him, and 
they formed a collection such as I could scarcely imagine it possible 
to bring together in such a place. The interior put me in mind of a 
barn inhabited by a company of strolling players. On one side were 
hung up a collection of various kinds of gay dresses, here drums and 
gongs, there swords, lanterns, spears, muskets, and small cannon; on 
another side were shields, bucklers, masks, saws, and wheels, with 
belts, bands, and long robes. The whole was a strange mixture of 
tragedy and farce; and the group of natives were not far removed in 
appearance from the supernumeraries that a Turkish tragedy might 
have brought together in the green-room of a theatre. A set of more 
cowardly-looking miscreants I never saw. They appeared ready 
either to trade with us, pick our pockets, or cut our throats, as an 
opportunity might offer. 
The wife’s apartment was not remarkable for its comforts, although 
the Datu spoke of it with much consideration, and evidently held his 
better half in high estimation. He was also proud of his six children, 
the youngest of whom he brought out in its nurse’s arms, and exhibited 
with much pride and satisfaction. He particularly drew my attention 
to its little highly-wrought and splendidly-mounted kris, w r hich was 
stuck through its girdle, as an emblem of his rank. He was in reality 
a fine-looking child. The kitchen was behind the house, and occupied 
but a small space, for they have little in the way of food that requires 
much preparation. The house of the Datu might justly be termed 
nasty. 
