Finally, The Young Prince Was Murdered,
And He Proclaimed Himself King, In Right Of His Wife; On Which There
Arose Great Wars Between Him And The King Of Johor, Which Continue To
This Day.
He has held the kingdom by force these twenty years, and seems
now secure in his usurped and ill-got power.
The king's court, or residence, is situated upon the river, about half a
mile from the city, having three inclosures, and guards, before any one
can come to him, and a wide green between each guarded inclosure. His
house is built like all the rest, but much higher, so that he can see,
from where he sits, all that come to any of his guards, yet no one can
see him. The walls and covering of his house are made of mats, which
are sometimes hung with cloth of gold, sometimes with velvet, and at
other times with damask. He sits on the ground, cross-legged, like a
tailor, and so must all do who are admitted into his presence. He always
wears four crisses, two before and two behind, richly ornamented with
diamonds and rubies, and has a sword lying in his lap. He is attended by
at least forty women; some with fans to cool him, some with cloths to
wipe off sweat, others to serve him with aquavitae or water, and the
rest to sing pleasant songs. He doth nothing all day but eat and drink,
there being no end of banqueting from morning till night; and, when
ready to burst, he eats areka betula[40], which is a fruit like a
nutmeg, wrapped in a leaf like tobacco, with sharp-chalk [lime] made
of the shells of pearl oysters.
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