Page 61 - Malay sketches

THE JOGET

ance, and for Western spectators it is immeasur-
ably dull.
In one of the Malay States, however, Pahang, it
has for years been the custom for. the ruler and one
or two of his near relatives to keep trained dancing
who what is called the " " a
girls, perform Joget
real dance with an accompaniment of something like
real music, though the orchestral instruments are
very rude indeed.
The dancers, budak joget y belong to the Raja's
household, they may even be attached to him by a
closer tie ; they perform seldom, only for the amuse-
ment of their lord and his friends, and the public
are not admitted. Years ago I saw such a dance,
and though peculiar to Pahang as far as the Malay
States are concerned, it is probable that it came
originally from Java ; the instruments used by the
orchestra and the airs played are certainly far more
common in Java and Sumatra than in the Peninsula.
I had gone to Pahang on a political mission
acompanied by a friend, and we were vainly
courting sleep in a miserable lodging, when at
I A.M. a message came from the Sultan inviting us
to witness a joget. We accepted with alacrity,
and at once made our way to the astdna, a
well-built and commodious house on
picturesque,
45