Page 188 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES
that was but to back his
simple enough, get gifts
(for they would serve again as they had done
and at the same time to throw a little dust
already)
in the who was known to be on
eyes of the clerk,
his way back. Accordingly, a youth of no account
was arrested by the King's people, and charged with
on a with the the
carrying liaison lady during
absence of her husband. The crime was, of course,
aggravated by the fact that she was under the
special protection of the King ! The clear proof of
guilt was the alleged possession by the woman of a
to the man.
sarong* belonging
This was sufficient for the
charge ground display
of royal displeasure, and procured the restitution of
the but it failed to convince anyone that the
jewels,
man accused by the King had done any wrong, and,
in of the strenuous exertions of His Highness
spite
to the man banished from the country, nothing
get
was done to him. The plan, therefore, miscarried
and when the clerk returned
to some extent, it is
probable that he learnt the facts, for he declined to
further serve the King, and even said bluntly things
about his late master that were not altogether loyal.
I have elsewhere stated that Malays try to wipe

*
The Sdrong is the Malay national garment, a sort of skirt,
usually in tartan, worn by men and women alike.
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