132 VOYAGE FROM INDIA TO SIAM AND MALACCA. 



the afore-mentioned palm tree. It was open at the sides, only 

 the floor was lined with two feet high planks. Outside, at one 

 end, two ladders of five steps each had been constructed of narrow 

 planks. Between these ladders was a kind of throne, consisting- 

 of square rafters, connected above and below, and crowned with 

 a conical red painted top. These rafters stood a little higher 

 than the raised floor of the audience room ; they were thicker 

 than an arm and only planed smooth, without any other ornament. 

 The four foremost rafters stood just so far apart that His Majesty 

 could sit on his feet between them ; the two other rafters which 

 were joined to the floor of the room had one step, by which he 

 had to mount on his throne. Round about there was a simple 

 fence of planks, which were hardly two feet high. The size of 

 this throne was scarcely two yards square, the steps leading up 

 to it were not as wide. But this time the king gave his audience 

 in front or at the right hand of his throne, 



He is young and rather good looking', his skin is very light. 

 He was sitting on an old Bengal carpet. His dress consisted 

 only of a cotton Cavay (Kabaia?), and a red silk cloth tied round 

 his body after the fashion of his nation. 



This red silk belt had a shield in front with raised work ; 

 it was as wide as a hand and about one span long. 



He had tied an ordinary handkerchief round his head, in so 

 negligent a manner that the crown of his head remained un- 

 covered ; they nearly all wear this handkerchief in the same 

 fashion. 



His questions and conversation only touched uninteresting 

 matter. When he saw the gold watch of one of our passengers 

 he showed a great wish to possess it, but none to buy it. 



His ministers sat behind him in a half circle. Although 

 this nation is very uneducated one could detect some court 

 ceremonies. 



I botanized in the rice fields near here. A kind of Apinia 

 bloomed frequently near the ditches and grew to half the height 

 of a man. 



In the ditches bloomed two kinds of Arusus with oblong 

 leaves ; they were peculiar and in my opinion new. 



In the evening before sunset we went back. My attention 

 was caught by a peculiar sound like that of a trumpet, which 

 arose from underneath the boat. I made enquiries and was told 



