fter all. But the day of our entree was a most propitious one, as on
that very morning this renowned monarch had been made the happy father
of his twenty-eighth child. To this fortunate event we doubtless owed
our reception at the court of this very exclusive potentate, who, we
were told, almost invariably declined the proffered civilities of
foreigners. Bonfires, illuminations and processions seemed the order of
the day, business was suspended, bells were ringing, gongs sounding, and
everybody was taking holiday, in commemoration of an event that seemed
to have lost none of its novelty even after nearly a score and a half of
repetitions.

The palace is built in pagoda form, with abundant architectural
adornments, and is surrounded by a semicircle of smaller buildings of
much the same appearance, though somewhat less imposing. The grandest
view is at night, when the whole immense pile, from base to turret, is
one blaze of light that but for the abundant tropical growth might be
seen for miles away. The sultan is a well-informed and courtly
gentleman, with a polish of mind and manners we were quite unprepared to
find hidden away in the heart of Java. He is said to be the most
distinguished of all the Malayan princes of this isle. He conversed with
readiness on the general aspect of political affairs in Europe and
America, inquired for the latest intelligence, and before we left
invited us to be present at a grand military review on the following
day. The garb of the troops, both officers and men, consists of long
silken sarangs confined by embroidered girdles, gold or silver _bangles_
in lieu of boots, and costly turbans adorned with precious stones--a
garb that looked; better suited to the harem than the battle-field but
their manoeuvres certainly did credit to their royal instructor in
military tactics. The distinguishing weapon of Malayan soldiers, both in
Java and elsewhere, is the kris, worn at the back and passed into the
girdle. This is always carried both by officers and men, and very
frequently civilians: the long sword is worn only by officers.

After the review we were presented to the sultan's eldest son, a tall
slender young man, somewhat over twenty, with fierce, gleaming black
eyes, and a profusion of black hair falling below his shoulders. His
countenance indicated both intelligence and firmness, and his appearance
might have been _distingue_ but for his strangely effeminate dress of
damask silk made lik