130 



LOMSOCK. 



[chap. xti. 



any of the materials for cbe%\ iiig the refreshing betel during 

 the journey. And the stores uf provisions were sent on 

 a day in advance. And on the day before that appointed 

 for starting, all the chiefs both gi'eat and small came to 

 Mataram, the abode of tlie king, with their horses and 

 their sei-vants, and the bearers of their sirih boxes, and 

 their sleeping-mat>j, and their provisions. And they en- 

 camped under the tall Waringin-trees that border all the 

 rojub about Alutaram, and with bhiziug llres frighted away 

 the ghouls and evil spirits that nightly haunt the gloomy 

 avenues. 



In the morning a great procession was formed to con- 

 duct the Eajah to the mountain. And the royal princes 

 and relations of the Kajah mounted their black horses, 

 whose tails swept the ground ; they used no saddle or 

 stirrups, but sat upon a cloth of gay eoloui's ; the hits 

 were of silver and the bridles of many-coloured cords. 

 The less important people were on small sti-ong horses of 

 vaiious colours, well suited to a mountain journey ; and all 

 {even the Eajah) were bare-legged to above the knee, 

 wearing only the gay coloui-ed cotton wiUst-cloth, a silk 

 or cotton jacket, and a large handkerchief tastefully folded 

 round tlie h.eiid- Every one was attended by one or two 

 servants bearing his sirili and betel boxes, who were also 

 mounted on ponies ; and great numbers more had gone on 

 in advance or waited to bring up the rear. The men in 

 authority were numbered by hundi'eds and their followers 

 by thousands, and all the island wondered what great thing 

 would come of it. 



For the first two days they went along good roads and 

 tlirough many villages wliich were swept clean, and where 

 bright cloths were hung out at the windows ; and all .t)ie 

 people, when the Eajah came, squatted down upon the 

 ground in respect, and every man riding got off his horse 

 and squatted down also, and many joined the procession 

 at every VLQoge. At tlie place where they stopped fur the 

 night, tlie j>eople had placed stakes along each side of the 

 roads in front of the houses. These were split crosswise 

 at the top, and in the cleft were fastened little clay lamps, 

 and between them were stuck the green leaves of palm* 

 trees, which, dripping with the evening dew, gleamed 



