Muda Hassim was a wretched-looking little man. Still, there was a courteous and gentle manner about him that prepossessed us in his favour, and made us feel that we were before a Chief who had been accustomed to command. We took our places in a semicircle, on seats provided for the occasion, smoked cigars and drank tea. His Highness chewed his sirih-leaf and betel-nut, seated with one leg crossed under him, and playing with his toes. Very little is ever said during these audiences; so we sat staring at one another for half an hour, with mutual astonishment. After the usual compliments of wishing our friendship might last as long as the moon, and my having offered him the _Dido_, and everything else that did not belong to me, in exchange for his house, we took our leave. [Sidenote: May 19.] This was the day fixed for Muda Hassim’s visit to the _Dido_, about which he appeared anxious, as he had seldom been known to go beyond his own threshold. For this ceremony all the boats, guns, tomtoms, flags, and population were put in requisition; and the procession to the ship was a gorgeous and amusing spectacle. We received him on board with a royal salute. He brought in his train a whole tribe of natural brothers. His guards and followers were strange enough, and far too numerous for the _Dido’s_ deck; but whether the most important personages of the realm were kept out we did not ascertain. One fellow succeeded in obtaining a footing with a large yellow silk canopy, a corner of which having run into the eye of one of the midshipmen, the bearer missed his footing, and down came the whole concern--as I was informed, by _accident_! The party assembled in my cabin, and the remarks were few; nor did they manifest great astonishment at anything. In fact, a Malay never allows himself to be surprised. I believe, however, His Highness did not think much of my veracity when I informed him that this was not the largest ship belonging to Her Britannic Majesty, and that she had several mounting upwards of 100 guns. He admitted that he had seen a grander sight than any of his ancestors. There was much distress depicted on the Royal countenance during his visit, which I afterwards ascertained was owing to his having been informed that he must not spit in my cabin. On leaving the ship, whether the cherry-brandy he had taken made him forget his directions I do not know, but he squirted a mouthful of red betel-nut juice over the white deck, and then had the temerity to hold out his hand to the First Lieutenant! This farce over, I had now some time to refit my _Dido_ in one of the prettiest spots on earth, and as unlike a dockyard as anything could be. [Sidenote: May.] Brooke’s residence, although equally rude in structure with the abodes of the natives, was not without its English comforts of sofas, chairs, bedsteads, and baths. It was larger than any other, but, like them, being built upon piles, we had to mount a ladder to get into it.