246 



A NATUJiJimT'JS WANPMItlNGS 



the person who carried it about with him. The bag con- 

 taiued, besides, three ealendiirs of diflerent forms — the thiefs 

 cphemeris — for computing the day and hour at which success 

 or faUure would follow the enterprises of his interesting aud 

 exciting profession. 



The people of the H^iwas ore of more open, lively and enlight- 

 ened character than those I had anywhere encountered. The 

 women had less of the bitshfal and timid dis[)osition nf Malays 

 of their sex, and were im^lined to Ije talkative and f^avj without 

 forwardness or want of respect — altogether a mure likeable 

 people than any other in the Heaidency. 



During my stay at Snrulauguu there occurred one of the 

 high Moslem feast-days, on which it is a custom of the chiefs 

 to come to express—" inasmuch as it is a day of congratulation 

 among ourselves their good-will and wishes towards the 

 Government and the person of the Jlagistrate. Accordingly 

 the chiefs of the nearer vilhiges, along with a large compnuy, 

 attired in their best, came to the residence of Mr. Kanij>, who 

 (attended by the Commandant and myself) received them in 

 the verandah on to which they filed^ with a respectful sahiam, 

 to a seat in Oriental fashion. After a few minutes, to allow 

 every one to become still, the chief of tlxe marga rose ; and I 

 eliall not soon forget the grace and dignity of his manner an.l 

 bearing and his perfect self-possession and comjwsure, Maliing 

 a distinct and separate bow first to the Magistrate (the ruler 

 of the region and representative of the Government), next to 

 myself (the stranger and his guest) and then to the military 

 Commandant— the order which the etiquette of the occasion 

 made very proper, and most becoming — he made a long 

 sjieech to the Magistrate t>erfect both in expression and in 

 courtly demeanouf, and then addressed us in turn. The 

 phrases made use of — many of them, in the i^Ialay language, 

 extremely terse— to express their own goodwill to the (Govern- 

 ment were loyal, honourably submissive and hearty, and those 

 in which they acknowledged the benefits of good government, 

 and the just and mild administration of the Magistrate himself, 

 were most courtly and affectionate. To myself terms, aptly 

 chosen, were used to signify their pleasure at my visit to their 

 country, their sincere wishes that I might epjoy it, and the 

 assurances of their utmost hospitality and goud-wiU. Tlw 



