SRI RAMA. 93 



The Chiefs were then summoned to receive the Raja's 

 orders : — ■ 



Deri jauh men-junjong duli 

 Sudan dekat langsong meniembah 

 Ter-angkat kadam jari sapuloh 

 Kunchup saperti sulur bakong 

 Jari saperti susun sirih. 



" While yet some way off they bowed to the dust 



When they got near they made obeisance 



Uplifting at each step their fingers ten 



The hands closed together like the rootlets of the bakong palm 



The fingers one on the other like a pile of sirih leaves." 



The Tumonggong having been directed to have seven boats 

 built in seven days' time, returned home and forthwith 

 summoned forty-four carpenters and gave them the necessary 

 directions. Working day and night without a break except 

 for meals, the forty-four boat-builders completed their task at 

 the close of the seventh day, and the boats fully equipped were 

 launched and taken down to the Raja's private landing-place. 

 Seven more days were occupied in assembling all the youths 

 and maidens of the country to accompany the Princess. There 

 was a forced levy (kerah) of all these, through the Penghulus 

 or headmen, by command of the Tumonggong, and the Raja 

 himself made his selection, from among the crowd brought 

 together at the balei, of " b >ys just approaching manhood and 

 girls just ripe for marriage " [orang wuda-mnda sedang olok- 

 olok-kan laki-laki, dan perampuan yang sedang elok di-panjat 

 nikah). Dresses of honour were given to these, musical in- 

 struments " of the twelve kinds'" were got together, provisions 

 for the expedition were put on board the new vessels, and all 

 the Chiefs, warriors and attendants who were to accompany 

 the Raja were assembled. 



At this point, there occurs a long and curious description 

 of the dress which Sri Rama wore; first his trousers — 



Ber-saluar beraduwanggi nama-nia 



Pesak ber-pesong sendiri-nia 



Beratus-ratus chermin di pinggang 



