rofoundest reverence
before him; but both he and his domain are really controlled by half a
dozen resident Hollanders, at the head of whom is the prefect. The
palace of the regent is a massive structure, completely surrounded by
beautiful gardens; and just beneath the windows where we sat I noticed a
picturesque little lake, about which were sporting joyously at the
evening hour a group of the young maidens of the palace. They were
graceful and lovely in the careless abandon of their glee, but they no
sooner perceived the white faces of the foreigners looking down at them
than they fled like frightened doves, hiding themselves in a grove of
bananas, in any single leaf of which one of these dainty demoiselles
might have clothed herself entire.

We found the regent surrounded by crowds of native attendants, among
whose prostrate forms we wended our way to his presence. He was seated
on a raised dais at the upper end of the audience-hall, and received us
with the courteous dignity of a well-bred gentleman. His dress was that
ordinarily worn by Malayan rajahs--brocade silk _sarang_ fastened by a
rich girdle, a loose upper garment of fine muslin, and a massive turban
of blue silk wrought in figures of gold. Costly but clumsy Arabic
sandals, and a diamond-hilted _kris_ or dagger of fabulous value,
completed a costume that looked both graceful and comfortable for a warm
climate. He greeted the ladies of our party with marked _empressement_,
thanked them for their visit, and conducted them in person to the
entrance of the seraglio to make the acquaintance of his wives and
daughters.

[Illustration: SOLDIER OF THE SULTAN'S GUARD.]

The next evening we were all invited to be present at the _gammelang_,
or orchestral and dramatic entertainment, in the harem of this prince.
The invitation was gladly accepted, and so novel an exhibition I have
seldom witnessed. Many of the musicians were masked, and wore
queer-looking, conical caps that looked like exaggerated extinguishers,
and a sort of light armor in which their unaccustomed limbs were
evidently ill at ease. Occupying a conspicuous position in the very
front, I noticed a Siamese _raknat_-player, robed in the native
dress--or rather _un_dress--of his country, and his hair cut _a la_
Bangkok. He was singularly expert in the use of his instrument; and I
learned afterward that, though taken to Java as a slave, his great
musical talents had won for him not only liberty, but the hig