They Were Evidently Quite
Puzzled, And Did Not Believe A Word We Had Told Them.
They then
inquired if we were really English, and not Dutch; and although
we strongly asserted our nationality, they did not seem to
believe us.
After about an hour, however, they brought us some supper (which
was the same as the breakfast, but without the fish), and after
it some very weak coffee and pumpkins boiled with sugar. Having
discussed this, a second conference took place; questions were
again asked, and the answers again commented on. Between whiles
lighter topics were discussed. My spectacles (concave glasses)
were tried in succession by three or four old men, who could not
make out why they could not see through them, and the fact no
doubt was another item of suspicion against me. My beard, too,
was the subject of some 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 boys 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 my 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.
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