Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/124

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The story, told in the following manner, serves as a sort of mnemonic aid to the young Javanese learning their letters:

The cemetery is fully three miles from the town, beyond the village of Penellay, in passing through which we were struck with the number of houses with long bamboo poles before them, and a stick fixed at right angles on the top, from the end of which was suspended a circular cage containing the Moro-bo, a beautiful small grey dove, with lines upon the breast like those of a shell parrot, or Australian love-bird. The Moro-bo is a household pet; and is almost venerated by the Javanese, who consider their Dii Penates incomplete without one of them to charm away the "evil eye" with its sweet song.

Almost opposite the Resident's house, but some distance from it, a green, or meadow, lying between