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 him—the 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