Page:Life in Java Volume 1.djvu/84

66 and curious. Each one advanced in turn, and taking the right hand of one of the princes in both his own, the two stood a short time repeating some words in whispers, after which they drew their hands away, simultaneously, and kissed them. Then shaking hands in the European fashion, they came closer to each other, and once more saying a few words, and kissing their hands, they separated. Only a few of the more distinguished visitors, however, took part in the ceremony; the others, who came within a yard of the princes, confining themselves to a low and lengthy obeisance.

We soon learnt that these two princes were Raden Mas and Raden Rio. The former, like the Javanese in general, was of short stature; his skin was very dark—almost black; his eyes were quick and restless, and his thick lips concealed teeth of the hue of ebony. The general expression of his face more resembled that of a Siamese than a native of Java. His hair, almost the colour of