James Braithwaite, the Supercargo: The Story of his Adventures Ashore and AfloatKingston, William Henry Giles
History
James Braithwaite, the Supercargo: The Story of his Adventures Ashore and Afloat
Kingston, William Henry Giles
Great Britain -- History, Naval -- 19th century -- Fiction
At the landing-place some way up a number of natives were collected, who
received us in a very friendly way. We saw no Dutchmen nor other
Europeans. As we could not make ourselves understood by the natives, we
were unable to ascertain what had occurred at the other end of the
island. The men in the canoes had for clothing only a cloth round their
waists, but the people who now received us were habited in a much more
complete fashion. They wore the _sarong_, a piece of coloured cloth
about eight feet long and four wide, part of which was thrown over the
shoulder like a Highlander's plaid, the rest bound round the waist
serving as a kilt. They all had on drawers secured by a sash, and
several wore a short frock coat with buttons in front, called a _baju_.
All had daggers, and several, who were evidently people of some
consequence, had two in copper or silver sheaths. The latter had their
teeth blackened, which was evidently looked on as a mark of gentility.
They also wore turbans, while the lower orders only had little caps on
their heads. The watering-place was some little way up the river, and
while the mates proceeded there with the boats, I landed at the village
or town. I had not proceeded far when I was given to understand that a
chief or some person of consequence wished to see me, for the purpose, I
supposed, of trading. His habitation was pointed out to me on the
summit of some high ground at a distance from the river. It appeared to
be far larger than the houses of the village. Without hesitation I set
off, followed by Jack, and accompanied by several of my first
acquaintance, towards it. I now more than ever regretted having lost
O'Carroll, for understanding as he did the languages of the people of
the Archipelago, he would greatly have facilitated our proceedings.
The house or palace of the great man was surrounded, as are all the
island habitations of every degree which I saw in Java, with gardens.
We entered on the north side into a large square court, on either side
of which were rows of Indian fig-trees, with two large fig-trees nearly
in the centre. Passing through this we found ourselves in a smaller
court, surrounded by pillars, and covered in by a light roof. Here most
of my companions remained, but I was conducted up a flight of steps to a
handsome terrace in front of a building of considerable size, in the
centre of which was a spacious hall, the roof richly painted with red
and gold. This hall of audience was on the top of the hill; steps from
it led down to other houses which composed the dwelling of the chief and
his family.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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