SRI RAMA. 99 



trees in the form of a monkey. Their subjects broke out 

 into lamentations and remained below the trees watching with 

 astonishment the antics of the King and Queen, who were 

 jumping about among the branches. It was quite in vain 

 that the Tumonggong implored the King to come down, he 

 was quite unconscious of the entreaties addressed to him. 

 Then the Chiefs took counsel together and it was resolved 

 that the Tumonggong should return to Tanjong Bunga and 

 fetch Raja Laksamana, the Kirig's elder brother, while the 

 rest remained to watch. On the eighth day the Tumonggong 

 reached his destination, and presenting himself before Raja 

 Laksamana explained what had happened. The latter, after 

 providing himself with all the implements of sorcery (mat, 

 carpet, petarana, candle, tepong tawar, parched rice and yellow 

 rice), set off for the scene of the catastrophe, leaving the 

 Tumonggong in charge of the palace. The incantations were 

 immediately successful, and Sri Rama and his princess came 

 down from the trees, plunged into the lake, and emerging 

 from the water resumed their human form. Orders were then 

 given for the immediate return of the whole party. 



Not long after this the King learned that his hopes of having 

 an heir were likely to be fulfilled, and he summoned all his 

 people and, informing them that the Princess was enceinte, 

 gave orders that there should be general rejoicings. Religious 

 men (Lebis, Hajis, Imams and Khatibs) were to be assembled, 

 and there were to be readings of the Koran and unlimited 

 feasting. This was duly carried out, and the rejoicings went 

 on until the time for the child's birth approached. The main 

 building was duly prepared for the event (according to Malay 

 fashion) and a crowd of Chiefs and attendants assembled, but 

 to the horror of everyone, when the King's heir was born it 

 turned out to be an infant monkey, " not thicker than a man's 

 forearm/'' There was some discussion as to how the news was 

 to be conveyed to Sri Rama and who was to ask him, accord- 

 ing to custom, to name the new-burn infant, but at length the 

 eldest of the nurses undertook the commission, and presented 

 herself before the King. Her speech is a characteristic speci- 

 men of the way in which a Malay sets to work to break an 



