iS} HIKAYAT SERI RAMA. 
But he had first to comply with the (Malay) observance, in- 
cluded under the term of langkah, which assure to a traveller 
a successful journey and a safe return:—* He adopted the 
art called © stdang budiman, the young snake writhed ‘at his 
feet (i. e., he started at mid-day when his own shadow was 
round his feet), a young eagle was flying against the wind over- 
head; he took a step forward and then two backward, one 
forward as a sign that he was leaving his country, and two 
backward as a sign that he would return; as he took a step 
with the right foot, loud clanked his accoutrements on his left, 
as he put forth the left foot a similar clank was heard on his 
right, he advanced swelling out his broad chest, and letting 
drop his slender fingers, adopting the gait called, “ planting 
beans’”’ and then the step called saute spinach.’ ” 
As soon as the Raja had embarked, anchor was weighed 
and the expedition started amid the beating of drums and 
gongs and the blowing of trumpets. Cannon and muskets 
were fired (for anachronisms do not shock the taste of a Malay 
audience), the popping of the latter being compared to roasting 
paddy when the grain flies out of the husk with a slight report. 
The swiftness of the boats is most graphically described :— 
“Tt was like a palm-shoot hurled as a spear, like an eel dart- 
ing away when caught by the tail, ikea cockchafer escaping 
when its string is broken. The fly which settled (on one of the 
boats) found it slip from under him, the bird on the wing was 
overtaken and caught, the wind blowing in the same direction 
was passed by, an article thrown ahead from the bow fell into 
the water astern.”’ 
After seven days and seven nights spent in amusement at 
sea, the Princess proposed to her husband to land and see the 
place described by Raja Laksamana, where the river flowed 
down to the sea from a green lake on the mountain. Orders 
were given accordingly, and next morning the immense assem - 
*A long step and a slow swing of the arms reminds a Malay of 
the way a man steps and raises his arm to plant bean-seeds six 
fee: apart ; a quicker step and a rounder swing of ue arms Is. com- 
pared to the action of scattering small seeds. 
Jour. Straits Branch 
