VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA 155 



the both sides, but only little open on the breast ; this garment 

 had white sleeves. Underneath this they wore some kind of 

 white trousers, reaching down to the ground. 



While they dance, they are constantly singing, the time of 

 these songs, as well as the words, being very monotonous. One 

 could distinguish nothing else but the ever recurring end-syllables 

 of ang nang', etc. Then- dance was just as monotonous ; they 

 stood for a long time side by side smging\ and with the fans 

 which they carried in their hands, they made some circular 

 movements, or fanned themselves ; at times they beat time with 

 their fans, then they faced each other, advanced three or f cur steps, 

 and went back again; then each put one foot so much out that 

 their knees touched, and this they repeated several times. In 

 the end one of them stepped aside and poured out a glass of 

 wine to each of the Europeans out of a bottle which had been 

 handed to her for this purpose. This glass of wine was to 

 be paid for and they continued singing through this whole 

 performance. This was all that the pleasure consisted in. 



3. — Early to-day I went with my boat along the minor 

 arm of the river, which takes its course to Pepri and to a 

 temple which is called Wath Saiskoy; my aim was to get 

 some blossoms of a tree which had not been in blossom before. 

 Just this day there was a festival being held here, and the 

 front and upper part of the new temple were covered with 

 white linen. The idols themselves were covered with a 

 painted cotton carpet and there were many framed pictures 

 on the walls, most of them being Chinese productions of 

 art, representing buildings, and pleasure walks ; only few of 

 them painted by Europeans. Between these pictures being 

 some European looking glasses, placed there without any 

 order, and at the feet of the idols, two lights had been 

 laid on the ground, and round them many small lights had been 

 placed. The real festivity was celebrated before the gate of 

 the temple, behmd a large white cloth ; dances, comedies, and 

 music were produced alternately. I was told that all those who 

 had come there without bringing anything to eat were treated 

 by the others, who for that purpose had a great amount of food 

 prepared. The botanical aim of this excursion was to visit 

 several trees, Avhich I had not found in perfect bloom before. 

 Amongst these was specially the Durion tree, the blossoms of 



