Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/197

179 CHAPTER VI.

Next morning we started for Probolingo, turning off to the right before reaching the thickly-populated village of Rajussa, which was our first post for Bagnio Biro, which signifies blue water. On arriving at Benongan, we found, to our great annoyance, that the post-horses we had ordered to be in waiting for us had been coolly appropriated by a Contrôleur.

"Who is this Contrôleur?" said I, nettled by the contretemps; "what right has he to make use of the horses I ordered and paid for?"

"He is a Government officer, sir," replied Drahman, in a sotto voce tone, as though anxious to conceal my ignorance of such a personage; "he takes Rh