SINGAPORE, 
389 
plantation, by his people, who are Klings, from the neighbourhood of 
Madras. There are one hundred and fifty of them in his employ, and 
for the purpose of indulging their fondness for theatrical exhibitions, 
they have subscribed largely, and procured very costly and rich dresses 
for their representations during the holidays. 
On the appointed evening we repaired to the plantation, where two 
large fires were made on the lawm, to throw light on the performances. 
The night was dark ; and after the arrival of the company, a large 
white cloth was hung up between two stakes, sufficiently high to con¬ 
ceal the performers. After a long delay the curtain was raised, and 
the performance began. The actors were brilliantly dressed, a cap 
resembling very nearly the ibis, figured among the Egyptian antiqui¬ 
ties, was worn, and many massive ear-ornaments; these dresses showed 
brilliantly by the light of the fire, which also brought out in relief the 
surrounding shrubs and trees from the dark and indistinct background, 
producing a pretty effect. The performance was a kind of opera. 
The music consisted of a drum, cymbals, and castanets, which ac¬ 
companied the monotonous recitative. The plot was explained to me 
by Mrs. Balestier: the subject was “ the results of misplaced friend¬ 
ship.” 
A rich, hospitable rajah, entertains a guest, who is desirous of 
obtaining his only daughter in marriage, and thus securing to himself 
the riches of his host. His suit is not favourably received, upon 
which he enters into a plot to ruin and debase the rajah and his 
family. For this purpose, after insinuating himself into the rajah’s 
confidence, he betrays him, and makes false accusations to a Brahmin 
against him. The Brahmin at once proceeds to force the rajah to 
confession, tortures his daughter and domestics, and obtaining in this 
manner what he believes a confirmation of the accusation, strips him 
of his w’ealth and power, to confer them upon the false-hearted 
accuser. At this point of the plot, on account of the hour, eleven 
o’clock, we were obliged to stop the performances, but we understood 
that if they had been allowed to go on, the opera would have con¬ 
tinued for three days and three nights. However much the story 
may be prolonged, the plot generally closes with the triumph of the 
good, and affords some instructive moral. There were many accom¬ 
paniments to this performance, such as the mode of applying the 
tortures by a Brahmin, and the performances of a clown, who showed 
much cleverness, particularly in the mode of mimicking a European 
in his dress and manners. The music was thought by several of our 
gentlemen to resemble the Spanish, from which, however, it could 
not have been derived. In truth, these very operas, if so they ma) 
2 H 2 
