VISIT OF THE DUTCH OFFICIALS . 
209 
noon anchored off a low sandy spit. Immediately 
after we were visited by the Malay officials in their 
gay and pretty state dresses, their prahs being de- 
corated with numerous flags, and their approach 
announced by the sound of the tom-tom and shouts 
of the rowers. Others who came on board after- 
wards looked and seemed remarkably awkward and 
out of their element, probably because they felt 
dressed up for the important occasion ; for every one, 
it seems, holding a government appointment (under 
the Dutch) must appear in a black suit when paying 
official visits. It was with the utmost difficulty we 
kept from laughing when it was expected we should 
look very solemn at their reception, for some of our 
visitors appeared in costumes apparently of the last 
century, in long-tailed coats which trailed on the 
ground, for which they had never been measured, 
or with sleeves so long that the tips of their fingers 
could scarcely be seen. But their hats were the 
treat to see, for each sported a chimney-pot of some 
distant age, which was, in some cases, three or four 
sizes too large for the wearer, and to make a fit, 
a large pad of paper or rag had been introduced. 
After fulfilling their mission on board, they were 
glad to hurry away, and could be seen stripping off 
their official dress on their way to the shore. 
These islands are situated on the south-west coast 
of New Gruinea, quite out of the track of all Euro- 
pean trade, and are inhabited by black mop -headed 
16 
