afterwards effectually proved, by what occurred to my own observation,
and this too -in a way' highly honourable ;tp?]^ejreligipus’zetil'
of this people, which, in the performance of any prescribed duty, will
ngvfer admit of interragtion,
Early on the morning of Tuesday tho ScL of June, a messenger came
to me, with notice that the Raja proposed receiving us in the jCOjUFse* of
that day. We accordingly madethenece$sarypreparafions,and*at
die. appomted hoiir; with Mr. Davis, Mr, Steftders,,and^ a|i| opr at-
téndants, I proceeded to the palace, which we entered about noon, to
the évident astonishment of multitudes, who had filled the. balconies,
crowded about the doors, and occupied the avenues, to gaze at their
strange visitors: We were first conducted to a large apartment,^on the
west side of the great square of the palace, where the three principal
officers, Zoompoon1, Zoondonierb, and Zempic, had assembled to
receive us. Here we rested until Zoondonier, who went to announce
our arrival, returned to. usher us into the presence of the Daeb. We
followed him, the other officers with'many Zeenkaubs accompanying
us, through several passages, and up a number- of lofty ladders, which
connect the different floors, till at length we arrived at the elevated
station occupied by the Raja, near the summit of the (citadel.
After a short pause upon the landing place, the door was thrown
open, and we were ushered into a small,, but well proportioned room,
having*on the west side an arched balcony with sliding curtains, being
the only aperture for the admission of light, immediately opposite to
• * Commandant or keeper of the castle of Tassisudon. b Treasurer.
* Cup-bearer to the Daeb Raja, and master of the ceremonies.
the door fey which we entered, and before which a skreen projected
nearly ©nedhifd Of the brehdthaof theroom; fTheremaining spaced® the
the skreeh, Was decorated hfiiit the portraits, wrought in
silk, .of same champions of their ■ faith;-'-as stiff and formal as any heroes
that ever appeared in tapestry. The walls ofethe foam were o&kjured
with blue, and the arches -of the* feaiimhyy pöars( doors;; sfe. were
painted/with vermiiian, and ornamented with gilding. ffihe Raja was
■ habited hr a deep garaet^biottred cloth, and sat cross-fogged upon,h
pile of cushions, in the remotecorser of the rö.öto,witfo thehalcony
upon his right hand; upon his left side stood a cabinet of diminutive
idols, and a variety of consecrated trinkets;; clove upon hrr
rfghjt Was placed an tescrutoir, for the deposit of papers required to
bd at hand; and- before him was a small painted' bendh,fJto place
his tea cop on, and answering all the other purposes of rt.stabje. * We
each advanced; presenting, one after the other;'a white silk scarf, or
long narrow piece*of pelong, Ringed at hotheads- (as is the -custom in
these countries), to the Raja, who, keeping* his seat ail the time, tookv
them in Ms hand, and passed them to his Zempi, rfidefivered-aiso into
his hand, the Governor General’s dispatches; which he -received with
a smile upon his countenance, looking upon them, and nodding with
a slow motion of the head several times, before* be laid tfaem i^pohifte
bench before hhsn ©n the other Side of the room «ere, placed
immediately opposite to the Raja* three separate piles, ©f -cushions j
the Raja extending his arm, pointed to them^ and at-thhSaw.dm®
with his hand directed us to fee seated. It was .»ohm idtoe-before the
last of our attendants had entered, and toad® the usual obeisance: they
K