admiration,, and many questions were asked about personal
peculiarities which it is not the custom to allude to in
European society. At length, about one in the morning,
the whole party rose to depart, and, after conversing some
time at the gate, all went away. We now begged the
interpreter, who with a few hoys and men remained about
us, to show us a place to sleep in, at which he seemed very
much surprised, saying he thought we were very well
accommodated where we were. It was quite chilly, and
we were very thinly clad and had brought no blankets, but
all we could get after another hour’s talk was a native mat
and pillow, and a few old curtains to hang round three
sides of the open shed and protect us a little from the cold
breeze. We passed the rest of the night very uncomfortably,
and determined to return in the morning and not
submit any longer to such shabby treatment.
We rose at daybreak, but it was near an hour before
the interpreter made his appearance. We then asked to
have some coffee and to see the Pumbuckle, as we wanted
a horse for Ali, who was lame, and wished to bid him
adieu. The man looked puzzled at such unheard-of
demands and vanished into the inner court, locking the
door behind him and leaving us again to our meditations.
An hour passed and no one came, so I ordered the horses
to be saddled and the pack-horse to be loaded, and prepared
to start. Just then the interpreter came up on horse-'
back, and looked aghast at our preparations. “Where is
the Pumbuckle?” we asked. “ Gone to the Rajah’s,” said
he. “ We are going,” said I. “ Oh! pray don’t,” said he;
“ wait a little ; they are having a consultation, and some
priests are coming to see you, and a chief is going off to
Mataram to ask the permission of the Anak Agong for you
to stay.” This settled the matter. More talk, more delay,
and another eight or ten hours’ consultation were not to be
endured; so we started at once, the poor interpreter almost
weeping at our obstinacy and hurry, and assuring us—
| the Pumbuckle would be very sorry, and the Rajah would
be very sorry, and if we would but wait all would be
right.” I gave Ali niy horse, and started on foot, but he
afterwards mounted behind Mr. Ross’s groom, and we got
home very well, though rather hot and tired.
At Mataram we called at the house of Gusti Gadioca,
one of the princes of Lombock, who was a friend of Mr.
Carter’s, and who had promised to show me the guns made
by native workmen. Two guns were exhibited, one six
the other seven feet long, and of' a- proportionably large
bore. The barrels were;twisted and well finished, though
not so finely worked as ours, The stock was well made,
and extended to the end of the barrel. Silver and gold
ornament was inlaid over most of the surface, but the
locks were taken from English muskets. The Gusti
assured me, however, that the Rajah had a man who made