登陆注册
5290900000112

第112章 LETTER XX(10)

The Singhalese said, "I'm going to take you to Koto-lamah; no European has been there since the war. I've never been there, nor the Resident either." I have pored over blue books long enough to know that this is a place which earned a most unenviable notoriety during the recent troubles, and is described as "a stronghold of piracy, lawlessness, and disaffection." As we were making a diagonal crossing of the Perak, the Singhalese said, "A few months ago they would have been firing at us from both sides of the river." It was a beautiful view at that point, with the lovely river in its windings, and on the top of the steep bank a kampong of largish houses under palms and durions. A good many people assembled on the cliff, some with muskets and some with spears, and the Singhalese said, "I wish we had not come;" but as the elephant scrambled up the bank the people seemed quite friendly, and I dismounted and climbed up to a large house with a very open floor, on which fine mats were laid in several places. There were many women and children in the room when I went in, and one of the former put a fine mat over a rice sack for me. Presently the room filled up with people, till there were fifty-nine seated in circles on the floor, but some of the men remained standing, one a thorough villain in looks, a Hadji, with a dirty green turban and a red sarong. The rest of the men wore handkerchiefs and sarongs only.

These people really did look much like savages. They all carried parangs, or the short kris called a golo, and haying been told that the Malays were disarmed, I was surprised to see several muskets, a rifle, and about thirty spears on the wall. So I found myself in the heart of what has been officially described as "a nest of robbers and murderers," "the centre of disturbance and disaffection," etc. To make it yet more interesting, on inquiring whose house it was, the name of a notorious "rebel" leader was mentioned, and one of the women, I was told, is the principal wife or rather widow of the Maharajah Lela, who was executed for complicity in the assassination of Mr. Birch.

However, though as a Briton I could not have been a welcome visitor, they sent a monkey for two cocoa-nuts, and gave me their delicious milk; and when I came away they took the entrance ladder from one of the houses to help me to mount the elephant.

Mr. Low was at first displeased that I had been to Koto-lamah, and said that my escort was "ignorant and foolish" for taking me; but now he says that though he would not have taken the responsibility of sending me, he is glad that the thing was done, as it affords a proof such as he has not yet had of the complete pacification of the district; but, he added, it would appear somewhat odd that the first European to test the disposition of the Koto-lamah people should be a lady.

Leaving this large kampong we traveled by a much-grown-up elephant track, needing the constant use of the parang and the strength and wisdom of the elephant to make it passable, saw several lairs and some recent tiger tracks, crossed a very steep hill, and, after some hours of hard riding, came down upon the lovely Perak, which we crossed in a "dugout" so nearly level with the water that at every stroke of the paddle of the native who crouched in the bow the water ran in over the edge. We landed at the village of Kwala Kangsa "In the glory of the sunset, In the purple mists of evening," in which the magnified purple mountains were piled like Alps against the flaming clouds. By the river bank lay the Dragon boat and the square bamboo floating bath, through the side of which Mr. Birch was mortally wounded.

On landing we met a very bright intelligent-looking young Malay with a train of followers, a dandy almost, in white trousers, short red sarong, black baju with gold buttons, gold watchguard, and red head dress. The expression of his face was keen and slightly scornful. This is Rajah Dris, a judge, and the probable successor to the Perak throne.

The present Resident thinks highly both of his character and his abilities, and he is very popular among his countrymen. He walked with us as far as the mosque, and I heard him ask questions about me. The Mussulmen of the village, several of them being Hadjis, were assembling for worship, lounging outside the mosque till the call to prayer came.

Ablutions before worshiping are performed in floating baths in the river. The trade of Kwala Kangsa seems in the hands of the Chinese, with a few Klings among them, and they have a row of shops.

A Joyous Welcome--A Severe Mortification--The British Resident--Daily Visitors--Rajah Dris--A Tipsy Ape--Marriage Ceremonies--Marriage Festivities--Malay Children--The Rajah Muda Yusuf--A Dreary Funeral--Fascinating Companionship--A Cocoa-Nut Gatherer--The Argus Pheasant--An Opium Wreck--Rhinoceros Horns--Elephant-Taming--Petrifying Influences of Islamism--A Dwindling Race February 17.--I was very glad that yesterday was Sunday, so that I had a quiet day, for nearly twelve hours of jungle riding on an elephant makes one very stiff and sleepy. Three days of solitude, meals in the company of apes, elephant excursions, wandering about alone, and free, open air, tropical life in the midst of all luxuries and comforts, have been very enchanting. At night, when the servants had retired to their quarters and the apes to the roof, and I was absolutely alone in the bungalow, the silent Oriental sentries motionless below the veranda counting for nothing, and without a single door or window to give one the feeling of restraint, I had some of the "I'm monarch of all I survey" feeling; and when drum beat and bugle blast, and the turning out of the Sikh guard, indicated that the Resident was in sight, I felt a little reluctant to relinquish the society of animals, and my "solitary reign," which seemed almost "ancient" also.

同类推荐
  • 乡塾正误幼学篇

    乡塾正误幼学篇

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 唐末藩镇演义

    唐末藩镇演义

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 河岳英灵集

    河岳英灵集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 雅量

    雅量

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 一诚斋诗存

    一诚斋诗存

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 跳来跳去你跳的出生活吗

    跳来跳去你跳的出生活吗

    本书收录了吕麦女士精心创作短篇散文,文字清新犹如心灵鸡汤,滋养读者的身心,深受广大中学生喜爱。
  • 锦绣凰途之一品郡主

    锦绣凰途之一品郡主

    幽暗宫室,一杯毒酒,孪生哥哥甘心赴死,三尺刑台,血光飞溅,当朝储君满门被屠,她策马回朝,战甲峥嵘,最后收获却是骨肉至亲的尸骸鲜血,高台之上,那人长剑指天,容颜冷酷:给我穿了她的琵琶骨!血色刀锋,红烛泣泪,他说:今后再没人会知晓你的身世,你可以安心在我身边。她是前朝余孽,殃及满门,这场惊天血案,亦不过一场以爱为名华丽的阴谋算计!江山?美人?舍我其谁?噩梦骤醒,一切从头——美眸睁开,她还是那个绝代风华的浔阳郡主,养父尚在,兄长为伴,一切,都还来得及。沙场点兵,她一身戎装挥斥方遒,后宅夺嫡,她以铁血手腕翻覆皇朝天下!是她的,她要守,想要的,就去抢!妖颜倾世,艳杀天下!再次对决,她以手中长枪劈开脚下六尺金砖,楚河汉界,泾渭分明,她说:这天下疆域之广终不过我手中一盘棋,在这局中,你——连棋子,都不算!
  • 异世界的植物英雄

    异世界的植物英雄

    一个长着小丑脑袋的抽奖机,一个摆摊买水果的小商贩。“wtf”,向日葵怎么成精了,变成一个可爱萝莉;“纳尼?”豌豆射手也成精了,变成一个头戴钢盔的士兵。更多精彩内容,尽在《异世界植物英雄》,等你来看。
  • 穿越之我的真命天子

    穿越之我的真命天子

    她,朴贝原本与他没有交集,因为爸爸的老师,他的爷爷才相遇……
  • 唐易州龙兴观道德经碑文

    唐易州龙兴观道德经碑文

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 入土为安

    入土为安

    夜很冷,山风悠悠吹着,蜞蚂儿嘴皮子很快冷得发紫,克制不住地打起了筛壳子。他解着水流水滴的衬衣纽扣说:管得着。我告诉你,要是听我的话,等刘副省长走了以后再安埋,我仍然当我们之间没发生过任何不愉快一样帮你,向上级争取解决你爹的整个安埋费用;今后修新农村示范点,第一幢房子先分给你。要是不听我的话,那好,你不是说你爹不是地震中死的,可以送到县医院去尸检吗?我们就通知县公安局把你爹送到县医院去尸检,查验是不是你想今后新楼房修起了,婆娘说起了,嫌爹妈住在一起是累赘,有意害死的?说罢,猛一转身,气宇轩昂甩手甩脚走了。
  • 天才嫡出小姐之废材你骂谁

    天才嫡出小姐之废材你骂谁

    一场穿越,顾可心成了一个小孩子。废材,呵呵。丹药!萌宠!神器!看我翻云覆雨。
  • 童年论

    童年论

    近年来,学界对童年社会学研究的兴趣与日俱增,本书旨在介绍这一研究领域中的主要发展情况。在当代社会学和人类学研究的基础上,本书建立了童年研究与社会学理论之间的联系,呈现了它的历史、政治和文化维度,并通过对童年的社会结构性特征及其日常生活背景的深入分析揭示了童年的社会建构特征。本书并不是根据家庭、学校和玩耍这样的传统类别,而是围绕空间、时间、文化、身体和工作这样的主体来组织内容的。通过这种方式,本书分析了近年来童年研究中新的研究方法的差异,以此为童年研究领域提供有价值的启示。
  • 都市极品神龙

    都市极品神龙

    新文《我的修仙全靠吃》,求品读!高二学生楚凡觉醒星河神龙国太子记忆,修星辰炼体诀,得神龙契约系统,开启都市无敌横扫之路。邂逅了一极品美女之后,楚凡终于得到神龙契约系统的正确打开方式。”什么,还能这么修炼?“”踩踩人打打脸,居然能够增长真气值?“……
  • 今古奇谈:荒郊老店

    今古奇谈:荒郊老店

    这是一部悬疑、惊悚、涉案经典集成,共收录了十五篇跌宕起伏、扣人心弦的故事,每一篇都惊奇不断,令人心跳不已。《荒郊老店》气氛恐怖,人物怪异,似人似鬼,似魔似妖,但最终皆为人在作祟;《巨麝谜案》中的一群中药贩子为了利益不杀人越货,铤而走险;《和谐卫士》中的刑警机智勇敢、破获了高铁爆炸案;《血热江冰》谱写了缉毒警察与大毒袅殊死决战的悲壮诗篇……惊悚的场面,出奇的悬念,惊心的案情,真挚的情感,令人击节慨叹。