VOYAGE FKOM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 165 



that by reading- he is going- to have white blood, as the gods are 

 said to have that too. With these capacities he behev^es he will 

 finally succeed in flying. 



He relates all this nonsense to all who appear before him, 

 and asks them whether they do not think them possible, and 

 whether they do not believe that one day he well be able to fly, 

 whereupon he is assured by all his courtiers, doctors and Talapoins 

 that he surely is right. 



Unfortunately for the old bishop and his two priests, he had 

 them brought before him two years ago, and also questioned them 

 about these things and whether they did not think them possible. 

 As they all unanimously denied this, he ordered each of them 

 to be given 100 strokes with the rotan sticks ; some other Chris- 

 tians had the same fate. Afterwards they were laid in irons, and 

 thrown into prison. The old bishop remained there for one year, 

 the others were released after half a year, but the old man still 

 suffers great pains from the wounds which the iron has made in 

 his feet. 



Another story of his cruelty, which happened shortly before 

 our arrival, runs as follows : His hair-cutter had shorn his hair a 

 little unevenly, because he was short-sighted. The king looks 

 into the looking glass himself ; and asks afterwards his oldest 

 prince and his nephew, whether his hair was properly cut, who 

 both say it was. Hereupon he goes to his women, who do not 

 approve, or perhaps laugh at him. He returns in a fury, pro- 

 nounces death- judgement on the old hair- cutter, and orders his son 

 and his nephew each to receive 150 strokes with the rotan, which 

 are immediately dealt out to them. One of the old ministers begs 

 for the prince and offers tjis back instead ; he also is flogged im- 

 mediately. The hair-cutter was beheaded three days after, for the 

 king had made a law that he had to pronounce a death warrant 

 at three different times, before it could be executed, in case he 

 might have been over-hasty in the first instant. 



The rotan floggers have a certain rank ; they are many in 

 number, and each carries his bundle of three to twelve rotan 

 sticks in his hand. These sticks are about three feet long and as 

 thick as a little flnger. 



He has no real soldiers, only there are some kinds of guards 

 near him, together with his courtiers, specially such as they call 

 pages. They do not allow any sti anger to appioach him nearer 



