And Then
There Was Much Preparation Throughout The Whole Island.
The best
cattle were killed and the meat salted and sun-dried; and
abundance of red peppers and sweet
Potatoes were gathered; and
the tall pinang-trees were climbed for the spicy betel nut, the
sirih-leaf was tied up in bundles, and every man filled his
tobacco pouch and lime box to the brim, so that he might not want
any of the materials for chewing the refreshing betel during the
journey. The stores of provisions were sent on a day in advance.
And on the day before that appointed for starting, all the chiefs
both great and small came to Mataram, the abode of the king, with
their horses and their servants, and the bearers of their sirih boxes,
and their sleeping-mats, and their provisions. And they encamped under
the tall Waringin-trees that border all the roads about Mataram, and
with blazing fires frighted away the ghouls and evil spirits that
nightly haunt the gloomy avenues.
In the morning a great procession was formed to conduct the Rajah
to the mountain. And the royal princes and relations of the Rajah
mounted their black horses whose tails swept the ground; they
used no saddle or stirrups, but sat upon a cloth of gay colours;
the bits were of silver and the bridles of many-coloured cords.
The less important people were on small strong horses of various
colours, well suited to a mountain journey; and all (even the
Rajah) were bare-legged to above the knee, wearing only the gay
coloured cotton waist-cloth, a silk or cotton jacket, and a large
handkerchief tastefully folded around the head. Everyone was
attended by one or two servants bearing his sirih and betel
boxes, who were also mounted on ponies; and great numbers more
had gone on in advance or waited to bring up the rear. The men in
authority were numbered by hundreds and their followers by
thousands, and all the island wondered what great thing would
come of it.
For the first two days they went along good roads and through
many villages which were swept clean, and where bright cloths were
hung out at the windows; and all the people, when the Rajah came,
squatted down upon the ground in respect, and every man riding
got off his horse and squatted down also, and many joined the
procession at every village. At the place where they stopped for
the night, the people had placed stakes along each side of the
roads in front of the houses. These were split crosswise at the
top, and in the cleft were fastened little clay lamps, and
between them were stuck the green leaves of palm-trees, which,
dripping with the evening dew, gleamed prettily with the many
twinkling lights. And few went to sleep that night until the
morning hours, for every house held a knot of eager talkers, and
much betel-nut was consumed, and endless were the conjectures
what would come of it.
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