the night, the people had placed stakes along each side of the roads in front of
the houses. These were split crosswise at the top, and in the cleft were fastened
little clay lamps, and between them were stuck the green leaves of palm-trees,
which, dripping with the evening dew, gleamed prettily with the many twinkling
lights. And few went to sleep that night until the morning hours, for every house
held a knot of eager talkers, and much betel-nut was consumed, and endless
were the conjectures what would come of it.
On the second day they left the last village behind them and entered the wild
country that surrounds the great mountain, and rested in the huts that had been
prepared for them on the banks of a stream of cold and sparkling water. And the
Rajah's hunters, armed with long and heavy guns, went in search of deer and
wild bulls in the surrounding woods, and brought home the meat of both in the
early morning, and sent it on in advance to prepare the mid-day meal. On the
third day they advanced as far as horses could go, and encamped at the foot of
high rocks, among which narrow pathways only could be found to reach the
mountain-top. And on the fourth morning when the Rajah set out, he was
accompanied only by a small party of priests and princes with their immediate
attendants; and they toiled wearily up the rugged way, and sometimes were
carried by their servants, until they passed up above the great trees, and then
among the thorny bushes, and above them again on to the black and burned rock
of the highest part of the mountain.
And when they were near the summit, the Rajah ordered them all to halt,
while he alone went to meet the great spirit on the very peak of the mountain. So
he went on with two boys only who carried his sirih and betel, and soon reached
the top of the mountain among great rocks, on the edge of the great gulf whence
issue forth continually smoke and vapour. And the Rajah asked for sirih, and
told the boys to sit down under a rock and look down the mountain, and not to
move until he returned to them. And as they were tired, and the sun was warm
and pleasant, and the rock sheltered them from the cold wind, the boys fell
asleep. And the Rajah went a little way on under another rock; and as he was
tired, and the sun was warm and pleasant, and he too fell asleep.
And those who were waiting for the Rajah thought him a long time on the top
of the mountain, and thought the great spirit must have much to say, or might
perhaps want to keep him on the mountain always, or perhaps he had missed his
way in coming down again. And they were debating whether they should go and
search for him, when they saw him coming down with the two boys. And when
he met them he looked very grave, but said nothing; and then all descended
together, and the procession returned as it had come; and the Rajah went to his