COSTUMES — CHILDREN. 
83 
form of sarong and kahia. The men have ill- 
shapen trousers coming to the ankle, and the 
loose kahia jacket, all of the same black 
material. Those in mourning are distinguished 
by a long kahia, which must be very uncomfort- 
able in walking, since it trips up the wearer at 
every step. For nearest relations mourning is 
worn a year, and six months for those more dis- 
tantly connected. The women of the Rajah’s 
household are an exception to the wearing of 
black on special occasions ; and they must wear 
diamond ear-rings, a gold comb, and shoes. 
I am distressed by the appearance of the 
children in all these parts. A health y-looking 
child is a rare sight, nearly all being afflicted 
with an unnatural distension of the stomach, 
caused by the almost unvaried diet of sago, 
eaten without any further cooking than the 
baking which moulds it iuto cakes. The arms 
and legs are miserably thin, every rib shows 
clearly, and there is often a sad expression along 
with this unhealthy state. And yet the men 
are strong and sinewy enough. 
Sago as they use it would be unrecognisable 
to you. The first time I saw it was as we rowed 
up the bay of Amboina : the men were eating 
hard rust-coloured cakes, which seemed to me 
