Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
which, from being seldom shot at and regularly fed, are almost tame. The jungle and woods
which surrounded the park appearing to abound in birds, I went to shoot a few, and was re-
warded by getting several specimens of the fine new kingfisher, Halcyon fulgidus, and the
curious and handsome ground thrush, Zoothera andromeda. The former belies its name by
not frequenting water or feeding on fish. It lives constantly in low damp thickets picking up
ground insects, centipedes, and small mollusca. Altogether I was much pleased with my vis-
it to this place, and it gave me a higher opinion than I had before entertained of the taste of
these people, although the style of the buildings and of the sculpture is very much inferior to
those of the magnificent ruins in Java. I must now say a few words about the character,
manners, and customs of these interesting people.
The aborigines of Lombock are termed Sassaks. They are a Malay race hardly differing in
appearance from the people of Malacca or Borneo. They are Mahometans and form the bulk
of the population. The ruling classes, on the other hand, are natives of the adjacent island of
Bali, and are of the Brahminical religion. The government is an absolute monarchy, but it
seems to be conducted with more wisdom and moderation than is usual in Malay countries.
The father of the present Rajah conquered the island, and the people seem now quite recon-
ciled to their new rulers, who do not interfere with their religion, and probably do not tax
them any heavier than did the native chiefs they have supplanted. The laws now in force in
Lombock are very severe. Theft is punished by death. Mr. Carter informed me that a man
once stole a metal coffee-pot from his house. He was caught, the pot restored, and the man
brought to Mr. Carter to punish as he thought fit. All the natives recommended Mr. Carter to
have him 'krissed' on the spot; 'for if you don't,' said they, 'he will rob you again.' Mr.
Carter, however, let him off, with a warning, that if he ever came inside his premises again
he would certainly be shot. A few months afterwards the same man stole a horse from Mr.
Carter. The horse was recovered, but the thief was not caught. It is an established rule, that
any one found in a house after dark, unless with the owner's knowledge, may be stabbed,
his body thrown out into the street or upon the beach, and no questions will be asked.
The men are exceedingly jealous and very strict with their wives. A married woman may
not accept a cigar or a sirih leaf from a stranger under pain of death. I was informed that
some years ago one of the English traders had a Balinese woman of good family living with
him—the connexion being considered quite honourable by the natives. During some festival
this girl offended against the law by accepting a flower or some such trifle from another
man. This was reported to the Rajah (to some of whose wives the girl was related), and he
immediately sent to the Englishman's house ordering him to give the woman up as she must
be 'krissed.' In vain he begged and prayed, and offered to pay any fine the Rajah might im-
