tinental India, considering complimentary inquiries
after them as not insulting, but courteous. Although,
however, they are not jealous of their women, they
are jealous of their own honour in their persons,
and ready to avenge, at the risk of their lives, the
slightest insult offered to them. In the year 1718,
the prince of Madura, having been driven from his
throne by his rebellious brother, resolved to throw
himself on the protection of the Dutch, and for
this purpose came, with his family, on board of a
Dutch frigate lying in the harbour of Surabaya.
The Dutch captain received him with courtesy, and
as his princess came on deck, took the liberty, with
more freedom than delicacy, of embracing her by
kissing her neck, a practice perhaps authorized by
the then manners of his country, but hostile, past
endurance, to oriental fastidiousness. The princess,
imagining her honour in danger, sereamed aloud,
and the prince, rushing upon the commander, poig-
narded him on the spot. His followers commenced
a muck j the crew’ of the ship retaliated, and
being eventually successful, put the prince and
many of his people to death, and decapitated and sent
the head of the former to Surabaya. These particulars
are faithfully extracted from the native annals.
Instances of the same kind have occurred among
the Javanese, but they are, as we might suspect,
far less scrupulous than the rest, as the following
anecdote, extracted from Javanese writings, will
show. In the year 1706, the Susunan Pakubu-
wana being at Samarang, and having gained some
advantages over his rival, gave public dances and
entertainments, at which the wives and daughters
of the chiefs attended. The men of highest
rank danced* according to the custom of
their country, and thfe heir-apparent, who was a
skilful performer, exhibited with the rest. The
beautiful wife of Martoyudo, son of the chief of
Samarang, saw him, was charmed with his person,
and struck with an irresistible passion for him,which
she soon found means to communicate. The
young prince in consequence visited the lady, and
was in the habit of passing the night with her
when the husband was absent on the public guard.
One morning, the prince staying later than usual,
the husband returned and found the lovers together.
He discovered the rank of his wife’s paramour,
and, discreetly coughing, gave the prince
•an opportunity to escape. The offended husband
contented himself with giving his wife a drubbing.
She effected her escape, and complained of his
cruelty to the Susunan, who being made acquainted
with the transaction, and feeling thè delicate
nature of his own situation, at the moment contending
for a crown, sent for the injured husband,
and, presenting him with valuable gifts, requested
him farther to select for a wife the handsomest
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