THE RAJAH'S DELIGHT. 



467 



began the Bua Valley, wliicli^ at a distance of ten or. 

 twelve miles, expanded into a plain bordered on the 

 west by the high mountains of the Barizan chain, and 

 on the east by that of the Padang Lawas, which yet 

 faither on cui'ved round to the southwest and united 

 with the Barizan in tlie gigantic peak of Mount Ta- 

 lang. Winding to and fro down the Bua Valley, was 

 occasionally seen the silver sui-face of the Sinamu, 

 and beside that and the other streams were many 

 broad overflowed sawas, which gave the valleys the 

 appearance of abounding with hundreds of little 

 lakes. This is the grandest and most comprehen- 

 sive view I have enjoyed in Sumatra^ and this spot 

 is well named "The RaiaVs Delight." At an eleva- 

 tion of about four thousand five hundi'ed feet we 

 found it veiy chilly by night, not so much from the 

 difference of temperature, as indicated by the ther- 

 mometer, as on account of a strong ^vind and a thick 

 mist that enveloped us. This coffiee-garden is consid- 

 ered the best in this region ; but the Eesident infoi-ms 

 me that there are one or two at the same, or a some- 

 what greater elevation, on the Merapi, which are 

 finer. The lai'ge crops raised here are probably due to 

 the elevation and to the soil, which has been formed 

 from decomposing volcanic rock, and enriched by the 

 vegetable mould that has accumulated lor centmies. 



AprU itk — Continued on horseback along the' 

 southern fianks of Mount Sago to its western side, 

 when we came to the head of a valley bounded by steep 

 acclivities. A thick mist unfortunately concealed the 

 view from this point, the finest, it is said, in the whole 

 region, A steep, zigzag path brought us down to a 



