(MAP. TlTt.] 



125 



different from the common species of ilalacca. I there- 

 fore moved on another stage to Lolio Raman, where the 

 guard-house is situated quit^ hy itself in the forest, nearly 

 a mile from each of three villages. This was very agree- 

 ahle to me, as I could move about without haraig eveiy 

 motion watched by crowds of men women and children, 

 and I had also a much greater variety of wdka to each 

 of the villages and the plantations around them. 



The villages of the Sumatran Malays are somewhat 

 peculiar and verj' picturesqiia A space of some acres is 

 surrounded with a high fence, and over this area the houses 

 are thickly stre\\ni without the least attempt at i-egulaiity. 

 Tall cocoa-nut trees grow abundantly between them, and 



CHIEF a Moiffix ASH BJcic autv a suwAniASi tiu-iok. 



the ground is hare and smooth with the trampling of many 

 feet. The houses are raised about six feet on post-s, the 

 best being entirely built of planks, others of bamboo. The 

 former are always more or less ornamented with carving, 

 and have high-pitclied roofs and overhanging eaves. The 

 gable ends and all the chief posts and beams are some- 

 times covered with exceedingly tasteful carved work, and 

 this is stiU more the ca^e in the district of Slenangkabo, 

 further west Tlie floor is made of split bamboo, and is 



