diately gave it me. It represented the Hindoo goddess
Durga, called in Java, Lora Jonggrang (the exalted virgin).
She has eight arms, and stands on the back of a kneeling
bull. Her lower right hand holds the tail of the bull,
while the corresponding left hand grasps the hair of a
captive, Dewth Mahikusor, the personification of vice, who
has attempted to slay her bull. He has a cord round his
waist, and crouches at her feet in an attitude of supplication.
The other hands of the goddess hold, on her right
side, a double hook or small anchor, a broad straight sword,
and a noose of thick cord; on her left, a girdle or armlet
of large beads or shells, an unstrung bow, and a standard
or war flag. This deity was" a special favourite among the
old Javanese, and her image is often found in the ruined
temples which abound in the eastern part of the island.
The specimen I had obtained was a small one, about
two feet high, weighing perhaps a hundredweight; and the
next day we had it conveyed to Modjo-kerto to await my
return to Sourabaya. Having decided to stay some time
at Wonosalem, on the lower slopes of the Arjuna Mountain,
where I was informed I should find forest and
plenty of game, I had first to obtain a recommendation
from the Assistant Resident to the Regent, and then an
order from the Regent to the Waidono; and when after
a week’s delay I arrived with my baggage and men at
Modjo-agong, I found them all in the midst of a five days’
feast to celebrate the circumcision of the Waidono’s
younger brother and cousin, and had a small room in an
outhouse given me to stay in. The courtyard and the
oreat open reception-shed were ful^of natives coming and
<Toina- and making preparations o O for a feast which was to
take place at midnight, to which I was invited, but preferred
going to bed. A native band, or Gamelang, was
playing almost all the evening, and 1 had a good oppor-
tunityi of seeing the instruments and musicians. The
former are chiefly gongs of various sizes, arranged in sets
of from eight to twelve, on low wooden frames. Each set
is played by one performer with one or two drumsticks’.
There are also some very large gongs, played singly or in
pairs, and taking the place of our drums and kettledrums.
Other instruments are formed by broad metallic bars, supported
on strings stretched across frames; and others again
of strips of bamboo similarly placed and producing the
highest notes. Besides these there were a flute and a
curious two-stringed violin, requiring in all twenty-four
performers. There was a conductor, who led off and regulated
the time, and each performer took his part, coming
in occasionally with a few bars so as to form a harmonious
combination. The pieces played were long and complicated,
and some of the players were mere boys, who took their
parts with great precision. The general effect was very
pleasing, but, owing to the similarity of most of the instru-
v o l . i. < m