158 A JOURNEY 



mitted to visit any place. We spent part of 

 the day in making inquiries; and we were 

 informed that the Jakuns living within the 

 limits of the kingdom were not numerous; 

 two or three places only were mentioned 

 as being frequented by a few families of 

 them. 



The second day after onr arrival, having 

 previously obtained the necessary licence, 

 we went to meet the king at the wedding ; 

 but vire encountered him on the road about 

 half way as lie w^as returning home. He is 

 a man of about sixty years of age^ his ap- 

 pearance is at first sight prepossessing; he 

 appears respectable, simple and collected 

 in manner. We accompanied him to the pa- 

 lace , which » though one of the first buildings 

 in the place, would scarcely be called a 

 house in Europe. In his march he was pre- 

 ceded by a standard similar to that used by 

 Musulnien, and by a great dignitary bear- 

 ing the royal sword; he was followed by 



