THE RAJAH OF ABU. 
133 
almost covered with pieces of boxes — conspicu- 
ously Huntley k Palmer's biscuit boxes, with the 
bright labels still attached. A few dirty tattered 
flags hung about ; and as we approached, some 
of the household bustled with preparation — 
spreading a gaudy cloth on the table, coloured 
covers on the chairs, and hanging pieces of red 
and blue cloth here and there, so that the ver- 
andah was quite gay when we sat down. Num- 
erous old rusty guns on primitive racks, and 
about a dozen pistols neatly arranged, orna- 
mented the walls of the interior, which con- 
tained a surprising collection of heterogeneous 
articles stowed in corners and piled on shelves. 
Being a Mohammedan, he had numerous wives, 
who with a number of children peeped from the 
doors of their apartments ; but only one of his 
wives, quite a girl, the mother of an infant 
which he nursed with evident pride and many 
caresses during the whole time we stayed, was 
brought forward and introduced to us. Shortly 
a Papuan slave, with her wild mop all unbound, 
brought us cafe noir, kneeling as she offered it ; 
but fond as I am of this beverage, and tired out 
as I was from the hot walk, 1 could not bring 
myself to drink from the dirty-looking cups, 
which were in keeping with the whole service. 
