Page 64 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

In their ears were fastened the diamond
rings.
buttons so much affected by Malays, and indeed
now by Western ladies. Their feet, of course,
were bare.
We had ample time to minutely observe these
details before the dance commenced, for when we
came into the hall the four girls were sitting down
in the usual* Eastern fashion, on the carpet, bending
on their and
forward, their elbows resting thighs,
hiding the sides of their faces, which were towards
the audience, with fans made of crimson and gilt
paper which sparkled in the light.
On our entrance the band struck up, and our
attention was called to the
special orchestra, as the
instruments are seldom seen in the Malay Peninsula.
There were two chief performers, one playing on
a sort of harmonicon, the notes of which he struck
of stick held in each hand.
with pieces The other,
with similar pieces of wood, played on inverted
metal bowls. Both these performers seemed to
have sufficiently hard work, but they played with
the greatest spirit from 10 P.M. till 5 A.M.
The harmonicon is called
by Malays chelempong,
and the inverted bowls, which give a pleasant and
*
The attitude is that obtained by transferring the body
directly from a kneeling to a sitting position.
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