The Rajah of Moowar was a loyal adherent of the Government, but he was without the power to prevent the munitions of war passing into the Nanning territory. From the ship, although some way off, I was enabled to obtain assistance to make a suitable display on presenting the official letter, as well as the sword which had been added. The palace, like most Malay buildings, projected into the water, where it is supported on piles, and shaded by _kadjangs_. The blockading fleet was anchored opposite, in line. A Malay royal salute consists of 3 guns only, but unluckily there is no limit to the number of salutes. The senior mid, Mr. D. B. Bedford, an intelligent youth, undertook the office of master of ceremonies, and appointed himself to carry the colours, while I was of too great importance to do any more than I could help! We landed from a procession of boats: a Marine officer, Lieutenant Ford, and myself bringing up the rear. A high-caste Malay is never in a hurry. The important part of the ceremony, to them, consisted in the length of time they could keep us waiting. _I_ considered myself second only to the Rajah in importance; but it was evident that I was eclipsed by Lieutenant Ford, of the Royal Marines, in his red coat and tall feather. After a time, by a side-opening, there appeared a yellow-silk canopy supported on poles, which sheltered His Highness. He wore a red-and-green handkerchief round his head, with a corner sticking up. His legs well through dark-red trousers, a Highland-looking sarong, and a beautiful gold-embroidered _kris_ inlaid with precious stones, stuck in his waist. After shaking of hands and a palaver through interpreters, the letter was presented, amid the cheers of the _fleet_! and salutes from the brass guns. The same was repeated when the sword was delivered. Coffee and sweetmeats were carried by ladies of the harem. [Illustration: _A Royal Salute._] Here my assistants showed symptoms of weariness. I noticed that the Rajah flinched as each gun went off. Wanting to accelerate the departure of the kind assistance I had received from the ship, which was over twenty miles off, I ordered another salute to be fired. The good Rajah became very anxious that I should be informed that the reply to the letter would be forwarded without delay to the “General of the Honourable Company” at Malacca. As I saw he began to look really ill, I let him off the last salute, and thus concluded the ceremony. My friends from the _Magicienne_ came on board the _Diamond_, where I had prepared a blow-out of chickens boiled in pea-soup and onions, to be washed down by Bass’s pale ale, to which they did ample justice. They then departed, leaving me alone in my glory.