Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/326

308 prior to that time might lose the man his place.

"Give the Resident the letter as soon as he awakes," said I.

We were now in some difficulty to know where to put up, for I had depended on the Resident's kindness in directing us to a quiet lodging, as Madioen has no hotel of any kind. The coucer was no less puzzled than ourselves as to what we ought to do.

"Surely," said we, " there must be some place where we can go and wait till the Resident awakes. How do gentlemen manage when they come here without a surat tangan (hand-letter)?"

A lucky thought at last dawned upon the coucer' s mind. He remembered that there was a house known as the société, whither he proposed at once to drive us; a proposition which, of course, in our circumstances, we were very glad to accede to.