IN SUM ATM A. 



147 



and \nth a headcloth tied- alxtut liis temples in tlie fashion of 

 district ; but from the waist opwards naked. 



The centre of attraction is the long line of maidenhood, 

 glittering in silver and j^old of native workmanship. The 

 hair of each girl, neatly artanged and odoriferons from abun- 

 dance of cucoa-nnt and eajeput oil, is tied in a knot behind 

 and transfixed by a higli-backe<l comb overlaid with gold 

 plates ; her head is crowned with a coronet {mggar) of gold, of 

 form and magurfieence according to her jiangkat ; a shawl 

 worn sash-wise hanp from the shoulder to the ground, while 

 from above the middle hangs a rich sarong, or petticoat, of 

 home-grown and spun silk, interwoven with gold thread, and 

 decorated with hundreds of small coins of the Dutch mint, 

 which jingle ple^isingly as she dances. Above this the body is 

 girt with a silk slendang, half concealing the breasts. The 

 arms, shoulders, and chest are bare, except for the nume- 

 rous gold or silver collars and necklets and bracelets, of 

 patterns peculiar to her mtirga, with which she is loaded. 

 Often these collars are entirely composed of the large dollar 

 pieces of 8pain, Holland, and Mexico, and of English half- 

 crowns. Of the highest-bora maidens, the arms from the 

 wrist to the elbow are almost concealed by the display of pure 



barbaric gold/' for they may wear as many bracelets as 

 they choose J while their sisters less fortunate in the matter 

 of blood and rank must conform to the regtilation number cor- 

 resj;K>nding to their degree. The breast is overlaid with 

 cresfieat-shaped gold plates, suspended in tiers; the waist is 

 encircled by a belt of one of the precious metals secured by an 

 elaborately-carved buckle of the same material The rather 

 bony fingers are encircled with many rings, and even the 

 nails are lengthened by additions of silver into talon-like 

 elaws ; so that altogether the Lam pong maiden presents a 

 dazzling appeamnce in the dim uncertain light of a lamplit 

 Balai. The cost of such a costume represents no mean sum ; 

 it is not uncommon for a girl to have as much as £100 worth 

 of ornaments about her person at a festival. 



When all is ready, the ever monotonous music commences, 

 and the Master ftf the Ceremonies, whose place is between the 

 two lines, at a signal from the chief calls— and his directions 

 must be implicitly obeyed— on two o!' the maidens to dance. 



L 2 



