Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/146

128 for thirty days, riding through the various campongs, calling at several houses, and, should he be of wealthy parentage, distributing alms when he visits his poorer brethren.

The pony also has a share of the finery, being caparisoned somewhat after an Arabian fashion, with bright brass bridle, a collar of bells, and stirrups with morocco shoes turned up at the toes. On one side of the pony is a bearer, holding a large gaudy payong, or umbrella, on a very long pole, which he holds over the youth's head; while on the other side another man performs the office of fanning away the flies that torment his charge, the fan being nearly always made of peacocks' feathers, and fastened to a pole similar to that to which the payong is attached. These are preceded by musicians, and followed by Hadjees, relations, boys carrying incense, and others with trays of the indispensable syree and betel.