338 S O O L O O. 



beach as they could, but I was afterwards informed by them that in 

 endeavouring to penetrate into the woods, they were always stopped 

 by armed men. This was also the case when they approached parti- 

 cular parts of the town, but they were not molested as long as their 

 rambles were confined to the beach. At the Datu's we were treated 

 to chocolate and negus in gilt-edged tumblers, with small stale cakes, 

 which had been brought from Manilla. 



After we had sat some time 1 was informed that Mr. Dana missed 

 his bowie-knife pistol, which he had for a moment laid down on a 

 chest. I at once came to the conclusion that it had been stolen, and as 

 the theft had occurred in the Datu's house, I determined to hold him 

 responsible for it, and gave him at once to understand that I should do 

 so, informing him that the pistol must be returned before the next 

 morning, or he must take the consequences. This threw him into some 

 consternation, and by my manner he felt that I was serious. 



Captain Hudson and myself, previous to our return on board, visited 

 the principal parts of the town. The Chinese quarter is separated by a 

 body of water, and has a gateway that leads to a bridge. The bridge 

 is covered by a roof, and on each side of it are small shops, which are 

 open in front, and thus expose the goods they contain. In the rear of the 

 shops were the dwellings of the dealers. This sort of bazaar contained 

 but a very scanty assortment, and the goods were of inferior quality. 



We visited some blacksmith-shops, where they were manufacturing 

 krises and spears. These shops were open sheds; the fire was made 

 upon the ground, and two wooden cylinders, whose valves were in the 

 bottom, served for bellows ; when used, they had movable pistons, which 

 were worked by a man on an elevated seat, and answered the purpose 

 better than could have been expected. 



The kris is a weapon in which this people take great pride; it is of 

 various shapes and sizes, and is invariably worn from infancy to old 

 age; they are generally wavy in their blades, and are worn in wooden 

 scabbards, which are neatly made and highly polished. This weapon 

 is represented in the tail-piece to this chapter. 



The market was well stocked with fruit and fish. Among the former 

 the durian seemed to predominate; this was the first time we had seen 

 it. It has a very disagreeable odour, as if decayed, and appears to 

 emit a sulphuretted hydrogen gas, which I observed blackened silver. 

 Some have described this fruit as delicious, but if the smell is not 

 enough, the taste in my opinion will convince any one of the contrary. 



Mr. Brackenridge made the following list of their fruits: Durian, 

 Artocarpus integrifolia, Melons, water and musk, Oranges, mandarin 

 and bitter, Pine-apples, Carica papaya, Mangosteen, Bread-fruit, Cocoa 



