RAMISERAM 
339 
suspended, and under it amusnud raised about afoot from the ground. 
On this I seated myself, with the Pandaram on my right hand. He 
was a very fat and fine looking lad of about fourteen years of age; 
his head was shaved all over ; on the top he wore a large chaplet 
of red coral and brown beads, with gold and scarlet silk tassels 
hanging down behind : he had a necklace of the same. His dress 
was of scarlet cloth, scarcely covering his breast and shoulders, but 
in other respects amply sufficient. He did not embrace in the Asiatic 
style, but presented his hand to me in the English fashion. When 
seated, he first presented a nazur of fifteen pagodas, which I touched 
and declined : afterwards were laid at my feet a tray of shawls and 
gold gauze, together with a profusion of fine fruit. As it was very 
hot, I immediately employed my delogets to keep off the crowd. 
After having paid and received the usual compliments, I expressed 
a wish to dress. All my visitors accordingly took their leave, ex- 
cept A poo, and the people belonging to him. Certainly my ap- 
pearance was not very well calculated for ceremony at that time ; 1 
had not been shaved for three days ; and the whole of my dress 
and person had partaken of no small share of the filth of the boat. 
Mr. Salt, who had suflPered by sea-sickness, and was a still more 
wretched figure, arrived in the middle of the confusion. During the 
time we were dressing a most excellent breakfast was prepared, 
which thoroughly cured his illness. 
After breakfast, Mr. Salt and I paid a visit to the pagoda. We 
passed through the village, which had been decorated on the oc- 
casion with green plantain trees stuck at each door, and strings of 
leaves suspended across the street. The houses were very uniform, 
one story high, thatched, with verandahs in front ; the space 
VOL. I. XX 
