AN EASTERN BANQUET, 



189 



placed on the top of the fence, so as to form a con- 

 tinued series of arcliesj a simple arrangement that 

 certainly produced a most charming effect. As we 

 passed along, scores of heavily-loaded flint-locks 

 were discharged in our honorj and these mimic war- 

 riors continued their peculiar evolutions. From Sila 

 a short walk brought us to Lainitu, and here our re- 

 ception took a new phase. In front of the rajah's 

 house was a wide triumphal ai'ch, made of boards, 

 and ornamented with t^vo furious red lions, who 

 held up a shield containing a welcome to the Hesi- 

 dent. But j,ust before we passed under that, the 

 crowd in front parted, and lo, before us stood eighteen 

 or twenty young girls, who had been selected from 

 the whole village for their beauty. They were all 

 aiTajed in theii" costliest dresses, which consisted of 

 a bright*red sarong and a low kabaya, over which was 

 another of lace, the latter bespangled with hiany thin 

 pieces of silver. Their long, black hair was combed 

 backward, and fastened in a knot behind, and in this 

 were stuck many long flexible silver pins, that rapidly 

 vibrated as they danced. Most of them had a nar- 

 row strip of the hair over the forehead clipped short, 

 but not shaven, a most unsightly custom, and per- 

 haps originally designed to make their foreheads 

 higher. Their lips were stained to a dull brick-red 

 from constantly indulging in the use of the betel. 

 They were arranged in two rows, and their dance, 

 the mimLr% was nothing more than slowly twist- 

 ing their body to the right and left, and, at the 

 same time, moving the extended arms and open 

 hands in circles in opposite directions. The only 



