Page 62 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

the right bank of the Pahang river. A palisade
enclosed the courtyard, and the front of the house
was a very large hall, open on three sides, but
covered by a lofty roof of fantastic design supported
on pillars. The floor of this hall was approached
by three wide steps continued round the three open
sides, the fourth being closed by a wooden wall
which entirely shut off the private apartments save
for one central door over which hung a heavy cur-
tain. The three steps were to provide sitting
accommodation according to their rank for those
admitted to the astdna. The middle of the
floor,
on the night in question, was covered by a large
chairs were for
carpet, placed us, and the rest of
the guests sat on the steps of the dais.
When we entered, we saw, seated on the carpet,
four two of them about
girls, eighteen and two
about eleven all attractive
years old, according to
Malay ideas of beauty, and all gorgeously and
picturesquely clothed.
On their heads they each wore a large and
curious but very pretty ornament of delicate work-
manship a sort of square flower garden where all
the flowers were gold, trembling and glittering with
every movement of the wearer. These ornaments
were secured to the head
by twisted cords of silver
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