134 
AK OLD RAJAH. 
Towards evening, while we were still resting 
on deck, the sound of tom-toms and gongs at- 
tracted our attention, and looking over the sea 
we saw a large prahu, oared by thirty rowers, 
approaching, most gaily decorated with branches 
and flowers. In the centre, under a great um- 
brella held by attendants, sat an old man, who 
shortly came on deck accompanied by four 
courtiers. I could not refrain from laughing 
aloud at the ludicrous appearance of the group 
before us, but was soon checked when I saw 
their really sorrowful countenances. It was the 
Rajah of some place in the neighbourhood ; his 
son had just been murdered, and seeing a great 
ship lying off, he had come to ask if any redress 
could be obtained. The old chief wore bright 
green trousers, a long black coat, and over this 
a Jcabia or native jacket of bright purple satin, 
with inch-wide gold-thread stripes, and a very 
dirty and starchless collar lay untidily on his 
neck. Another had trousers of bright scarlet, 
with large butterfly pattern, a faded green silk 
coat brocaded with large gold flowers, and a 
shabby grey felt hat; and another a long sur- 
tout coat, with a much worn black satin vest, 
wrong side out, over it. Two others were not 
so abundantly clothed, fpr one suit served them 
