We Passed
The Rest Of The Night Very Uncomfortably, And Determined To
Return In The Morning And Not Submit Any Longer To Such Shabby
Treatment.
We rose at daybreak, but it was near an hour before the
interpreter made his appearance.
We then asked to have some
coffee and to see the Pumbuckle, as we wanted a horse for Ali,
who was lame, and wished to bid him adieu. The man looked puzzled
at such unheard - of demands and vanished into the inner court,
locking the door behind him and leaving us again to our
meditations. An hour passed and no one came, so I ordered the
horses to be saddled and the pack-horse to be loaded, and
prepared to start. Just then the interpreter came up on horse
back, and looked aghast at our preparations. "Where is the
Pumbuckle?" we asked. "Gone to the Rajah's," said he. "We are
going," said I. "Oh! pray don't," said he; "wait a little; they
are having a consultation, and some priests are coming to see
you, and a chief is going off to Mataram to ask the permission of
the Anak Agong for you to stay." This settled the matter. More
talk, more delay, and another eight or ten hours' consultation
were not to be endured; so we started at once, the poor
interpreter almost weeping at our obstinacy and hurry, and
assuring us "the Pumbuckle would be very sorry, and the Rajah
would be very sorry, and if we would but wait all would be
right." I gave Ali my horse, and started on foot, but he
afterwards mounted behind Mr. Ross's groom, and we got home very
well, though rather hot and tired.
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