Presentation of the letter and sword to the Rajah over, and my assistants from the ship not in sight, I arranged my small fleet. By a convenient bend of the river, we could move to a position out of sight of the palace. Bedford in pinnace, and two native boats, armed, carrying eight men each, had to blockade the mouth of the Kissang, keeping a good look-out for signals. The _Diamond_ lay nearer the western side of the Moowar, with a war-boat at a respectable distance ahead and another astern of her. The other seven boats formed a line nearer the eastern shore, just within hail of one another, leaving an open space in the middle of the river for prizes. To each boat was attached a canoe, which of course was the “Captain’s gig.” The whole was arranged in less than an hour, when I was glad to get back to the _Diamond_. I had an interpreter who likewise played the fiddle, a good native curry cook, my gig’s crew and three Royal Marines for sentries, a corporal who did officer. The company of midshipmen commanding boats could be obtained by signal. Quiet as the jungle was by day, with its savage inhabitants, we were little prepared for their midnight carousals, when they came to wash their mouths out. The first roar sounded so loud, while I was dreaming, that I fancied my _Diamond_ had been carried by boarding, and that my reign was over, ere it had well begun. The following day the Rajah granted an audience. I took my coxswain and interpreter only. Nothing could have been nicer or more gentlemanlike. He was evidently a keen sportsman, but a spear more to his hand than a double barrel. He informed me that the jungle contained elephants, a few of them white; tigers and black panthers, buffaloes and wild cattle (_Bos gaurus_), large Samba deer, wild-pig, small bears, besides a variety of monkeys. He presented me with a handsome spear, seven feet long. Below the blade there was a foot of wrought gold, very handsome; and then human hair, reddish, but whether natural or dyed I could not tell. By virtue of this royal spear I could demand anything. I have it now. Orders had already been given that nothing should be received without payment in full. Being fond of a stroll with gun, coxswain carrying ammunition, I went for a short distance into the jungle. Observing on the top branch of a high tree,--some ninety feet from the ground, a round-looking lump, I fired. It fell; on my running up, a little monkey jumped from under. A large Brahmin kite, at a stoop, seized the child. A piece of wood at hand enabled me to throw near enough to cause the kite to drop it. The poor little thing ran for protection to the murderer of its mother. It was the first monkey I ever shot; needless to say, it was the last.