Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
fastened little clay lamps, and between them were stuck the green leaves of palm-trees,
which, dripping with the evening dew, gleamed prettily with the many twinkling lights. And
few went to sleep that night till the morning hours, for every house held a knot of eager talk-
ers, and much betel-nut was consumed, and endless were the conjectures what would come
of it.
On the second day they left the last village behind them and entered the wild country that
surrounds the great mountain, and rested in the huts that had been prepared for them on the
banks of a stream of cold and sparkling water. And the Rajah's hunters, armed with long and
heavy guns, went in search of deer and wild bulls in the surrounding woods, and brought
home the meat of both in the early morning, and sent it on in advance to prepare the mid-
day meal. On the third day they advanced as far as horses could go, and encamped at the
foot of high rocks, among which narrow pathways only could be found to reach the
mountain-top. And on the fourth morning when the Rajah set out, he was accompanied only
by a small party of priests and princes with their immediate attendants; and they toiled wear-
ily up the rugged way, and sometimes were carried by their servants, till they passed up
above the great trees, and then among the thorny bushes, and above them again on to the
black and burnt rock of the highest part of the mountain.
And when they were near the summit the Rajah ordered them all to halt, while he alone
went to meet the great spirit on the very peak of the mountain. So he went on with two boys
only who carried his sirih and betel, and soon reached the top of the mountain among great
rocks, on the edge of the great gulf whence issue forth continually smoke and vapour. And
the Rajah asked for sirih, and told the boys to sit down under a rock and look down the
mountain, and not to move till he returned to them. And as they were tired, and the sun was
warm and pleasant, and the rock sheltered them from the cold wind, the boys fell asleep.
And the Rajah went a little way on under another rock; and he was tired, and the sun was
warm and pleasant, and he too fell asleep.
And those who were waiting for the Rajah thought him a long time on the top of the
mountain, and thought the great spirit must have much to say, or might perhaps want to keep
him on the mountain always, or perhaps he had missed his way in coming down again. And
they were debating whether they should go and search for him, when they saw him coming
down with the two boys. And when he met them he looked very grave, but said nothing; and
then all descended together, and the procession returned as it had come; and the Rajah went
to his palace and the chiefs to their villages, and the people to their houses, to tell their
wives and children all that had happened, and to wonder yet again what would come of it.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search