the malay archipelago-1-第45章

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ce　of　bamboo　with　a　hole　in　it；　and　the　basket　is　filled　with　stones　to　get　the　required　weight。　Two　boys　turn　the　bamboo　round。　The　barrels　are　made　in　pieces　of　about　eighteen　inches　long；　which　are　first　bored　small；　and　then　welded　together　upon　a　straight　iron　rod。　The　whole　barrel　is　then　worked　with　borers　of　gradually　increasing　size；　and　in　three　days　the　boring　is　finished。　The　whole　matter　was　explained　in　such　a　straightforward　manner　that　I　have　no　doubt　the　process　described　to　me　was　that　actually　used；　although；　when　examining　one　of　the　handsome；　well…finished；　and　serviceable　guns；　it　was　very　hard　to　realize　the　fact　that　they　had　been　made　from　first　to　last　with　tools　hardly　sufficient　for　an　English　blacksmith　to　make　a　horseshoe。

The　day　after　we　returned　from　our　excursion；　the　Rajah　came　to　Ampanam　to　a　feast　given　by　Gusti　Gadioca；　who　resides　there；　and　soon　after　his　arrival　we　went　to　have　an　audience。　We　found　him　in　a　large　courtyard　sitting　on　a　mat　under　a　shady　tree；　and　all　his　followers；　to　the　number　of　three　or　four　hundred；　squatting　on　the　ground　in　a　large　circle　round　him。　He　wore　a　sarong　or　Malay　petticoat　and　a　green　jacket。　He　was　a　man　about　thirty…　five　years　of　age；　and　of　a　pleasing　countenance；　with　some　appearance　of　intellect　combined　with　indecision。　We　bowed；　and　took　our　seats　on　the　ground　near　some　chiefs　we　were　acquainted　with；　for　while　the　Rajah　sits　no　one　can　stand　or　sit　higher。　He　just　inquired　who　I　was；　and　what　I　was　doing　in　Lombock；　and　then　requested　to　see　some　of　my　birds。　I　accordingly　sent　for　one　of　my　boxes　of　bird…skins　and　one　of　insects；　which　he　examined　carefully；　and　seemed　much　surprised　that　they　could　be　so　well　preserved。　We　then　had　a　little　conversation　about　Europe　and　the　Russian　war；　in　which　all　natives　take　an　interest。　Having　heard　much　of　a　country…seat　of　the　Rajah's　called　Gunong　Sari；　I　took　the　opportunity　to　ask　permission　to　visit　it　and　shoot　a　few　birds　there　which　he　immediately　granted。　I　then　thanked　him；　and　we　took　our　leave。

An　hour　after；　his　son　came　to　visit　Mr。　Carter　accompanied　by　about　a　hundred　followers；　who　all　sat　on　the　ground　while　he　came　into　the　open　shed　where　Manuel　was　skinning　birds。　After　some　time　he　went　into　the　house；　had　a　bed　arranged　to　sleep　a　little；　then　drank　some　wine；　and　after　an　hour　or　two　had　dinner　brought　him　from　the　Gusti's　house；　which　he　ate　with　eight　of　the　principal　priests　and　princes；　he　pronounced　a　blessing　over　the　rice　and　commenced　eating　first；　after　which　the　rest　fell　to。　They　rolled　up　balls　of　rice　in　their　hands；　dipped　them　in　the　gravy　and　swallowed　them　rapidly；　with　little　pieces　of　meat　and　fowl　cooked　in　a　variety　of　ways。　A　boy　fanned　the　young　Rajah　while　eating。　He　was　a　youth　of　about　fifteen；　and　had　already　three　wives。　All　wore　the　kris；　or　Malay　crooked　dagger；　on　the　beauty　and　value　of　which　they　greatly　pride　themselves。　A　companion　of　the　Rajah's　had　one　with　a　golden　handle；　in　which　were　set　twenty…eight　diamonds　and　several　other　jewels。　He　said　it　had　cost　him　￡700。　The　sheaths　are　of　ornamental　wood　and　ivory；　often　covered　on　one　side　with　gold。　The　blades　are　beautifully　veined　with　white　metal　worked　into　the　iron；　and　they　are　kept　very　carefully。　Every　man　without　exception　carries　a　kris；　stuck　behind　into　the　large　waist…cloth　which　all　wear；　and　it　is　generally　the　most　valuable　piece　of　property　he　possesses。

A　few　days　afterwards　our　long…talked…of　excursion　to　Gunong　Sari　took　place。　Our　party　was　increased　by　the　captain　and　supercargo　of　a　Hamburg　ship　loading　with　rice　for　China。　We　were　mounted　on　a　very　miscellaneous　lot　of　Lombock　ponies；　which　we　had　some　difficulty　in　supplying　with　the　necessary　saddles；　etc。；　and　most　of　us　had　to　patch　up　our　girths；　bridles；　or　stirrup…leathers　as　best　we　could。　We　passed　through　Mataram；　where　we　were　joined　by　our　friend　Gusti　Gadioca；　mounted　on　a　handsome　black　horse；　and　riding　as　all　the　natives　do；　without　saddle　or　stirrups；　using　only　a　handsome　saddlecloth　and　very　ornamental　bridle。

About　three　miles　further；　along　pleasant　byways；　brought　us　to　the　place。　We　entered　through　a　rather　handsome　brick　gateway　supported　by　hideous　Hindu　deities　in　stone。　Within　was　an　enclosure　with　two　square　fish…ponds　and　some　fine　trees；　then　another　gateway　through　which　we　entered　into　a　park。　On　the　right　was　a　brick　house；　built　somewhat　in　the　Hindu　style；　and　placed　on　a　high　terrace　or　platform；　on　the　left　a　large　fish…　pond；　supplied　by　a　little　rivulet　which　entered　it　out　of　the　mouth　of　a　gigantic　crocodile　well　executed　in　brick　and　stone。　The　edges　of　the　pond　were　bricked；　and　in　the　centre　rose　a　fantastic　and　picturesque　pavilion　ornamented　with　grotesque　statues。　The　pond　was　well　stocked　with　fine　fish；　which　come　every　morning　to　be　fed　at　the　sound　of　a　wooden　gong　which　is　hung　near　for　the　purpose。　On　striking　it　a　number　of　fish　immediately　came　out　of　the　masses　of　weed　with　which　the　pond　abounds；　and　followed　us　along　the　margin　expecting　food。　At　the　same　time　some　deer　came　out　of　as　adjacent　wood；　which；　from　being　seldom　shot　at　and　regularly　fed；　are　almost　tame。　The　jungle　and　woods　which　surrounded　the　park　appearing　to　abound　in　birds；　I　went　to　shoot　a　few；　and　was　rewarded　by　getting　several　specimens　of　the　fine　new　kingfisher；　Halcyon　fulgidus；　and　the　curious　and　handsome　ground　thrush；　Zoothera　andromeda。　The　former　belies　its　name　by　not　frequenting　water　or　feeding　on　fish。　It　lives　constantly　in　low　damp　thickets　picking　up　ground　insects；　centipedes；　and　small　mollusca。　Altogether　I　was　much　pleased　with　my　visit　to　this　place；　and　it　gave　me　a　higher　opinion　than　I　had　before　entertained　of　the　taste　of　these　people；　although　the　style　of　the　buildings　and　of　the　sculpture　is　very　much　inferior　to　those　of　the　magnificent　ruins　in　Java。

I　must　now　say　a　few　words　about　the　character；　manners；　and　customs　of　these　interesting　people。

The　aborigines　of　Lombock　are　termed　Sassaks。　They　are　a　Malay　race　hardly　differing　in　appearance　from　the　people　of　Malacca　or　Borneo。　They　are　Mahometans　and　form　the　bulk　of　the　population。　The　ruling　classes；　on　the　other　hand；　are　natives　of　the　adjacent　island　of　Bali；　and　are　of　the　Brahminical　religion。　The　government　is　an　absolute　monarchy；　but　it　seems　to　be　conducted　with　more　wisdom　and　moderation　than　is　usual　in　Malay　countries。　The　father　of　the　present　Rajah　conquered　the　island；　and　the　people　seem　now　quite　reconciled　to　their　new　rulers；　who　do　not　interfere　with　their　religion；　and　probably　do　not　tax　them　any　heavier　than　did　the　native　chiefs　they　have　supplanted。　The　laws　now　in　force　in　Lombock　are　very　severe。　Theft　is　punished　by　death。　Mr。　Carter　informed　me　that　a　man　once　stole　a　metal　coffee…pot　from　his　house。　He　was　caught；　the　pot　restored；　and　the　man　brought　to　Mr。　Carter　to　punish　as　he　thought　fit。　All　the　natives　recommended　Mr。　Carter　to　have　him　〃krissed〃　on　the　spot；　〃for　if　you　don't；〃　said　they；　〃he　will　rob　you　again。〃　Mr。　Carter；　however；　let　him　off　with　a　warning；　that　if　he　ever　came　inside　his　premises　again　he　would　certainly　be　shot。　A　few　months　afterwards　the　same　man　stole　a　horse　from　Mr。　Carter。　The　horse　was　recovered；　but　the　thief　was　not　caught。　It　is　an　established　rule；　that　anyone　found　in　a　house　after　dark；　unless　with　the　owner's　knowledge；　may　be　stabbed；　his　body　thrown　out　into　the　street　or　upon　the　beach；　and　no　questions　will　be　asked。

The　men　are　exceedingly　jealous　and　very　strict　with　their　wives。　A　married　woman　may　not　accept　a　cigar　or　a　sirih　leaf　from　a　stranger　under　pain　of　death。　I　was　informed　that　some　years　ago　one　of　the　English　traders　had　a　Balinese　woman　of　good　family　living　with　himthe　connection　being　considered　quite　honourable　by　the　natives。　During　some　festival　this　girl　offended　against　the　law　by　accepting　a　flower　or　some　such　trifle　from　another　man。　This　was　reported　to　the　Rajah　（to　some　of　whose　wives　the　girl　was　related）；　and　he　immediately　sent　to　the　Englishman's　house　ordering　him　to　give　the　woman　up　as　she　must　be　〃krissed。〃　In　vain　he　begged　and　prayed；　and　offered　to　pay　any　fine　the　Ra