Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/275

Rh portions of the old Roman mythology. Many believe this was formerly the forge of Supo—a kind of Javanese Vulcan—who, with his son Suro, manufactured krisses in a very curious fashion. The iron, cut into the lengths required, was heated, and then beaten into shape with a round stone; the one used in tempo dulu kala, or bygone ages, for this purpose, being shown by the credulous native. The most singular part of this tale is that these celebrated smiths are believed to have finished off the point of each kriss, when red hot, with their fingers, a circumstance which added a peculiar virtue to the weapon.

Drahman found a burnt bit of incense, or benjamin, as they term it, in one of the little recesses in the altar. He was so pleased with it that he folded it up in a corner of his handkerchief, intending to take it back to Batavia.

As we were leaving Singoriti, he turned to look at the ruins again, apparently wrapt in thought; on VOL. I.