On one occasion I was present at the funeral of a native, which took place in the village of Batu Meau. The body had been laid in the grave previous to my arrival. A number of men were assembled round the spot, who were soon joined by a large party of women, bearing baskets containing household goods and dressed provisions, which were thrown into the grave by each as she approached. A number of aged women now commenced a loud wailing, which they continued without intermission until the grave was filled up with earth. The crowd then collected around the idol, to which a quantity of provisions were offered, and the remainder of the day was spent by the people in feasting and praying around it. The chiefs of the various villages, who came on board to bid me welcome to their shores, were conveyed in lightly constructed prahus, similar in appearance to the _orang-baays_[12] used by the Amboynese. Each of these contained thirty rowers, who propelled the vessel with broad paddles; these being far more serviceable than oars, for the use of which there would scarcely be sufficient space. The chiefs rowed in state round the brig three times, beating small gongs called _tif-tifs_, the music being accompanied by a loud singing, the burthen of which was "_Salamat Compania_." They then came alongside, and informed me that these vessels and their crews were "_Prahu Compania_," (government prahus), and that they were perfectly at my service. During the period in which the East India Company had establishments on these islands, the people of each village were obliged to have one of these prahus at all times in readiness for the use of the Resident, or head officer of the Government. The people of the islands have also been accustomed to other requisitions on the part of our Government, to which they comply with the greatest alacrity, feeling hurt whenever their assistance is not accepted. I found the prahus they offered to me on this occasion, of considerable service in bringing off wood, water, and other necessaries. The day following that of my arrival was fixed on for a general meeting of the chiefs, at which I intended to present them with the letters sent them by the Government, and to transact the remainder of the public business which had brought me here. About seven o'clock in the evening a singular spectacle presented itself. A number of women, taking advantage of the lowness of the tide, collected on the beach to catch fish and crabs, each bearing a flambeau composed of bamboo and resin, and as more than three hundred of these were burning at the same time, they formed a splendid illumination.