banks of clear streams and in the neighbourhood of shady trees, where they built
sheds and huts of bamboo well thatched with the leaves of palm-trees, in which
the Rajah and his attendants might eat and sleep at the close of each day.
And when all was ready, the princes and priests and chief men came again to
the Rajah, to tell him what had been done and to ask him when he would go up
the mountain. And he fixed a day, and ordered every man of rank and authority
to accompany him, to do honour to the great spirit who had bid him undertake
the journey, and to show how willingly they obeyed his commands. And then
there was much preparation throughout the whole island. The best cattle were
killed and the meat salted and sun-dried; and abundance of red peppers and
sweet potatoes were gathered; and the tall pinang-trees were climbed for the
spicy betel nut, the sirih-leaf was tied up in bundles, and every man filled his
tobacco pouch and lime box to the brim, so that he might not want any of the
materials for chewing the refreshing betel during the journey. The stores of
provisions were sent on a day in advance. And on the day before that appointed
for starting, all the chiefs both great and small came to Mataram, the abode of
the king, with their horses and their servants, and the bearers of their sirih boxes,
and their sleeping-mats, and their provisions. 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. At the place where they stopped for