Page:Life in Java Volume 2.djvu/176

160 declined my assistance, and walked in alone.

It was very amusing to see the Javanese princes and gentlemen projecting their elbows as far as they could in order to keep the ladies' crinolines from touching their sarongs. A short European lady who was present, remarked,

"I had literally to keep hold of my partner's sleeve in order to keep pace with him."

The supper was prefaced with soup, and followed by hot dishes, after the Dutch fashion in Djokdja. At the conclusion of the repast, we re-entered the Pendopo, and were shown over part of the dwelling-house. Among other apartments we saw the "family bridal chamber," in which we noticed two painted wooden figures—one of a man and the other of a woman, standing at the foot of the "family nuptial couch." These figures, as we were told, are calleil Lorobonyhoyo, or the youth and maiden, and are placed there to cheat the devil, who, according to their belief, during the