ust be a great saving
of expense to the parents of a large family. The people are generally
of a light brown colour, of the middle height, and well proportioned,
with a broad forehead and a flattish nose, which has a slight curve
downward at the tip. Their hair is black, and is always kept smooth and
shining with cocoa-nut oil. The dress of the women consists of a piece
of cotton cloth wrapped round the body and covering the bosom, under
which it is secured; it then hangs down to the knees, and sometimes to
the ankles, while the shoulders and part of the back remain uncovered.
The hair of their head, which they wear very long, is turned up and
twisted round like a fillet, fastened with long bodkins of different
sorts of wood, tortoiseshell, silver, or gold, according to the rank of
the lady. It is often adorned with a variety of flowers. The Javanese
are nominally Mohammedans, but in the interior especially a number of
idolatrous practices are still kept up.

Pleasantly conversing we at length reached the residence of Mynheer Van
Deck. It was built in the best style of native architecture, that is to
say, on a raised platform of stone or brick; the outer walls were of
brick, with a verandah of bamboo, all round which the partitions, as was
most of the furniture, were of bamboo, which had a very cool appearance,
and was sufficient for a hot climate. My host was a bachelor, not from
choice, he assured me, but from necessity, on account of the scarcity of
European ladies in the island.

"Those who are born here are so ill-educated, and so indolent, that a
man is better without their society," he remarked.

In spite of this drawback he received me very hospitably and kindly, and
though I was vexed at having again been separated from my ship, I
confessed to myself that I had very little cause to complain of my lot.
I was leaning back on an easy bamboo chair and gazing out through a
vista of palm-trees on the deep blue sea, when the clatter of horses'
feet coming along the road caught our ears. As they drew near the clank
of sabres was heard at the same time. The voice of an officer crying
"Halt" was next heard, and soon afterwards we saw him approaching the
house. My host, with a look of considerable annoyance, rose to receive
him. He was a young and pleasant-looking man.

"Ah, Mynheer Van Deck, bon jour," he said. "You have in your house, I
am given to understand, a foreigner, supposed to be an English spy.