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.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 248 of 419
Words from 67634 to 67900
of 114260