338 
S O O L O O. 
beach as they could, but I was afterwards informed by them that in 
endeavouring to penetrate into the woods, they were always stopped 
by armed men. This was also the case when they approached parti¬ 
cular parts of the town, but they were not molested as long as their 
rambles were confined to the beach. At the Dativs we were treated 
to chocolate and negus in gilt-edged 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 separated 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 contain. 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 blackened 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, mandarin 
and bitter, Pine-apples, Carica papaya, Mangosteen, Bread-fruit, Cocoa 
