Page 267 - Malay sketches

A PERSONAL INCIDENT

and again a fortnight later I went there alone. Since
then Ismail (or his advisers in his name) had
summoned nearly all the principal people of the
upper country, and a very large number of boats
had arrived at Blanja, bringing all the chiefs and
their retainers. Moreover, to increase his following
the ex-Sultan had resorted to an expedient not un-
known in England ; certain high offices of State
and into these he inducted his own
were vacant,
adherents in fact, created peers, to give himself a
in the House.
majority Upper
I waited half the day hoping to see Ismail, but
failed. They said he was asleep and meant to
remain asleep a long time. That is a common form
of Malay diplomacy, and, as I could not afford to
delay longer, I explained the proclamations, left a
number of copies and said I would call on Ismail
on my way back in a few days. As a piece ot
told me a customs station had been
news they
established at Blanja, and everyone who passed
would be taxed, white men or Malays. I said I
should be glad to see the collector, and he was in-
troduced, but seemed embarrassed, and assured me
he was only carrying out his master's orders, so I
continued my journey. If any conclusion could be
drawn from the conversation and manner of the
251