Page:Malay Sketches.pdf/64

MALAY SKETCHES the right bank of the Pahang river. A palisade enclosed the courtyard, and the front of the house was a very large hall, open on three sides, but covered by a lofty roof of fantastic design supported on pillars. The floor of this hall was approached by three wide steps continued round the three open sides, the fourth being closed by a wooden wall which entirely shut off the private apartments save for one central door over which hung a heavy curtain. The Three steps were to provide sitting accomodation according to their rank of those admitted to the astana. The middle of the floor, on the night in question, was covered by a large carpet, chairs were placed for us, and the rest of the guests sat on the steps of the dais.

When we entered, we saw, seated on the carpet, four girls, two of them about eighteen and two about eleven years old, all attractive according to to Malay ideas of beauty, and all gorgeously and picturesquely clothed.

On their heads they each wore a large and curious but very pretty ornament of delicate work-manship— a sort of square flower garden where all the flowers were gold, tembling and glittering with every movement of the wearer. These ornaments were secured to the head by twisted cords of silver