Page 160 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

If these great clumps of root and branch and
foliage may be seen sailing every day down a
Malay river into the Straits of Malacca, this parti-
cular island was so gigantic, that in size at least it
was miraculous. It is possible that to another man
the passing drift would have suggested nothing, but
the Penglima Prang Semaun was on such terms
with Fortune that he knew exactly the psycholo-
moment at which to take her. Here he
gical
remembered that the Malays call these floating
islands dpong, and that boats know very much better
than to get in their way. His craft then he
promptly steered right into the back of this Satan-
sent refuge, and, forcing it in amongst the palms and
covering it as well as was possible, he calmly sat
down and awaited the issue.
The island sailed slowly along, and when the huge
mass got near enough to the guard-boats for them
to realise their danger, there was a deal of shouting
and pulling of anchors, kicking up sleepy boatmen
and frantic struggles to avoid this river Juggernaut.
So passed the Penglima Prang Semaun ; not to
the vales and Queens of Avilion, but to the open
from sore stress to
sea, safety, from an earthly
death to an earthly life.
One can almost hear him chuckle as he sails
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