CHAP. XT,] THE RJJAWS DAUGETmS, 219 



well built, and lofty, mtb bamboo floor and glass windowg. 

 The greater part of it seemed to be one large hall divided 

 by the supporting posts. Near a window sat the Queen, 

 squatting on a ron^h wooden ann-chaii, chewing the 

 everlasting sirih and betel-nnt, while a bra^ss spittoon by 

 her side and a airih-box in front were ready to administer 

 her wants. The Rajah seated himself opposite! to her 

 in a similar chair, and a similar spittoon and sirib-box 

 were held by a Mttle boy squatting at his side. Two other 

 chairs were brought for us. Several yoiiug women, some 

 the Rajah's daughters, othei-s slaves, were standing about ; a 

 few were working at frames making sarongs, but most of 

 them were idle. 



And here T might (if I followed the example of most 

 travellers) launch out iuto a glomng description of the 

 charms of these damsels, the elegant costumes tliey wore, 

 and the gold and silver ornaments with which they were 

 adorned. The jacket or body of purple gauze would 

 figure well in such a description, allowing the he.iving 

 bosom to be seen l>eneAth it, wliile " sparkling eyes/' and 

 "jetty tresses" and "tiny feet" might be thi*own in pro- 

 fusely. But, alas ! regard for truth will not permit me 

 to expatiate too admiringly on such topics, determined as 

 I am to give as far as I can a true pictui^e of the people 

 and places I visit. The princesses were, it is true, suHi- 

 cieutly good-looking, yet neither their persoiK'5 nor their 

 garments had that appearance of freshness and cleanli- 

 ness without whieb no otlier charms can be contemplated 

 with pleasure. Eveiytbing had a dingy and faded ap- 

 pearance, very disagreeable and unroyal to a Enropean 

 eye. The only thing that excited some degree of admi- 

 mtion was the quiet and dignified manner of the liajah, 

 and the great respect always paid to hiui. None can 

 stand erect in his presence, and when he sits on a cliair, 

 all present (EuroiJcans of course excepted) squat uj>on' 

 the gi-ound. The Iiighest seat is literally, with these people, 

 the place of honour and the sign of rank. So unbending 

 are the niles in this respect, that when an English carriage 

 wiiich the Kajab of I./>mbock had sent for an-ived, it was 

 found impossible to use it because tlie driver's seat was 

 the highest, and it had to be kept as a show in ita coach- 



