At length, about an hour after noon, we reached our destination—the village
of Coupang, situated nearly in the centre of the island—and entered the outer
court of a house belonging to one of the chiefs with whom my friend Mr. Ross
had a slight acquaintance. Here we were requested to seat ourselves under an
open shed with a raised floor of bamboo, a place used to receive visitors and
hold audiences. Turning our horses to graze on the luxuriant grass of the
courtyard, we waited until the great man's Malay interpreter appeared, who
inquired our business and informed us that the Pumbuckle (chief) was at the
Rajah's house, but would soon be back. As we had not yet breakfasted, we
begged he would get us something to eat, which he promised to do as soon as
possible. It was however about two hours before anything appeared, when a
small tray was brought containing two saucers of rice, four small fried fish, and a
few vegetables. Having made as good a breakfast as we could, we strolled about
the village, and returning, amused ourselves by conversation with a number of
men and boys who gathered around us; and by exchanging glances and smiles
with a number of women and girls who peeped at us through half-opened doors
and other crevices. Two little boys named Mousa and Isa (Moses and Jesus)
were great friends with us, and an impudent little rascal called Kachang (a bean)
made us all laugh by his mimicry and antics.
At length, about four o'clock, the Pumbuckle made his appearance, and we
informed him of our desire to stay with him a few days, to shoot birds and see
the country. At this he seemed somewhat disturbed, and asked if we had brought
a letter from the Anak Agong (Son of Heaven) which is the title of the Rajah of
Lombock. This we had not done, thinking it quite unnecessary; and he then
abruptly told us that he must go and speak to his Rajah, to see if we could stay.
Hours passed away, night came, and he did not return. I began to think we were
suspected of some evil designs, for the Pumbuckle was evidently afraid of
getting himself into trouble. He is a Sassak prince, and, though a supporter of the
present Rajah, is related to some of the heads of a conspiracy which was quelled
a few years since.
About five o'clock a pack-horse bearing my guns and clothes arrived, with my
men Ali and Manuel, who had come on foot. The sun set, and it soon became
dark, and we got rather hungry as we sat wearily under the shed and no one
came. Still hour after hour we waited, until about nine o'clock, the Pumbuckle,
the Rajah, some priests, and a number of their followers arrived and took their
seats around us. We shook hands, and for some minutes there was a dead
silence. Then the Rajah asked what we wanted; to which Mr. Ross replied by
endeavouring to make them understand who we were, and why we had come,