that,
though her shoulders were quite naked, her bosom was modestly
covered. This garment reached nearly down to the young bride's
ankles, and was confined round the waist by a silver 'pinding.'
Her hair was arranged in the usual Javanese style, with the
addition that on the knob at the back of the head rested a kind
of crown made of beads and flowers.

"On the left side of the girl sat an old, haggard-looking woman,
the waksie, or bridesmaid, on whose shoulders, according to the
wedding etiquette of the Javanese, rests no small share of the
responsibility.... She is expected to adorn the bride in the
most attractive manner, so as to please her husband and the
assembled guests; and she superintends all the ceremonies during
the celebration of the wedding.... The bridegroom, like his
bride, was yellow-washed down to the waist; his eyebrows were
blackened and painted to a point; he wore a variegated batek
sarong, fastened round the waist with a bright silk scarf,
through the folds of which glittered the gilt hilt of a kriss.
His hair fell on his back in long thick masses, whilst a
conical-shaped hat, made of some material resembling patent
leather, was placed on the top of his head. On one side of him
was seated his _waksie_, or best man, a boy dressed very much
like himself. I was told that the parents of the young couple
were absent, as, according to the usual custom in this country,
their presence is not expected at the wedding ceremony."

[Footnote 8: "Life in Java."

It is interesting to know that the ceremony by which the marriage
tie is dissolved is as simple as the marriage ceremony is
elaborate. All that is necessary is the consent of the parties; no
discredit is involved nor any suffering incurred, and the Arab
priest performs the divorce service for a sum so trifling as half a
florin! Probably the cheapness of food, and the ease with which
life can be supported generally in such a country and climate, is
the cause of this laxity of the marriage tie. As a Mohammedan, a
Javan peasant is permitted to have as many as four wives, but he
can rarely afford more than one, or two at the most.

[Illustration: A SAWAH PLOUGH.]

CHAPTER IV.

BATAVIA.

Tanjong Priok--_Sadoes_--Batavia--Business
quarter--Telephoning--Chinese Campong--Weltevreden--
Waterloo Plain--Peter Elberfeld's house--Raffles
and