CHAPTER FOUR.
GUESTS OR PRISONERS?
Five more days were passed ascending the river, which by degrees beganto display banks that were park-like and densely packed with foresttrees. The dismal mangroves had disappeared, and in their placegraceful palms shot up and spread their feathered plumes; bamboos rosein clumps like gigantic grasses, and canes swung from branch to branch,and festooned specimens of timber which was often one blaze of colour,and whose petals sprinkled the now bright clear water.
A tiny village was passed at intervals, and from time to time some boatfloated by them deeply laden with rice or tea. At night the boat wasmoored to some tree trunk. The men went ashore, and collected wood andlit a fire for cooking purposes, and then all returned to sleep on boardbefore starting early in the cool misty morning, so as to have somehours' rest in the middle of the day, before the journey was resumed inthe evening.
It was a calm and peaceful, even if it were a monotonous little voyage,for, in spite of some object worthy of a naturalist's attention beingpointed out, Murray preferred to wait till he was farther on his waybefore commencing his collecting; and white-plumaged falcon andbeautiful long-tailed kingfishers were allowed to fly by unmolested.
"Wait a bit, Ned," he said, "and you shall have your hands full."
The river was now beautiful. It was a broad clear stream, withmountains visible away to the east, wherever an opening occurred in thewoods, and it seemed a wonder that so lovely a country should show soseldom that it was inhabited.
At the villages they passed, the people looked peaceful, quiet, andinoffensive, although every man carried a deadly-looking kris in itswooden sheath, thrust in the twisted-up band of the scarf-like silk orcotton sarong, which was wrapped round the middle in the form of a kilt,and with the exception of something worn in the shape of a hat to keepoff the sun's piercing rays, this was the only garment many of thepeople displayed.
They brought fruit when asked, every house having its cluster offruit-trees about it. In some cases there were cocoa-nuts, but morefrequently bananas of two or three kinds, which they parted with for amere trifle, these forming an admirable addition to the supply of food.
Hamet generally went to market, and came back smiling often enough witha large bunch of the finger-shaped fruit, a bag of rice, and when he wasmost fortunate in his foraging, a couple of skinny-looking chickens andsome eggs.
"Getting tired, Ned?" said Murray, one glorious morning as the men weresteadily rowing on, keeping close up to the trees on their right, forthe sake of the shade and the slower motion of the stream.
"No, not tired," replied the boy. "It's all too beautiful for one toget tired, but I do feel as if I should like to be doing something. Ikeep seeing birds I want to shoot, and flowers I should like to pick."
"Then here's news for you, boy. I reckon that we are now well up intothe region I wanted to explore, and to-morrow work shall begin in realearnest."
Ned's eyes sparkled. "Begin shooting?"
"Yes, and collecting botanical specimens. There will be no need now totoil up a certain distance every day, and we shall stop at everylikely-looking collecting ground to go ashore, and certainly exploreevery side stream or creek."
"And fish? Hamet says it would be capital if I could catch enough fishfor a dinner now and then; and I want to bathe."
"Of course, and you shall try; but there are crocodiles. I have seentwo within the past hour, one swimming, and the other lying on asandbank."
"Why, I saw that," cried Ned; "but it was so still that I concluded itwas all fancy, it lay so close, and looked so like the sand and mud.Well, I may fish if I can't bathe, and--well, that does seem curiousjust as I said that. Look, there are two of the black fellows at it."
"A dark brown and a light brown to be more correct," said Murray, as helooked at a boat some fifty yards ahead of them, where it had just shotround a bend of the smooth stream, with a Malay boy paddling; whileanother in bright sarong and gay-looking baju or jacket, and a nattylittle military-looking cap on one side of his head, leaned backtrailing a line for some kind of fish.
"I say, you sir," cried Ned loudly, as he noted that the brown-lookingboy was about his own age, and that he was watching the newcomerseagerly, "what's the Malay for what you are catching, and how many haveyou caught?"
For answer the boy gave his line a snatch in, and let it go again,showing his teeth, and laughing heartily.
"Well, you might be civil," said Ned flushing. "I say, Hamet, ask himhow many he has caught."
The boatman asked the required question, and received an answer in theMalay tongue.
"He says he has only just begun."
"Well, ask him what sort of fish he catches."
But before the question could be asked, the boy shouted something.
"He says, sahib, are you fond of fishing?"
"Yes, of course," shouted Ned, forgetful of the apparent need of aninterpreter.
By this time, the boats had passed each other and the distance wasincreasing, when there came in good plain English: "I say, where are yougoing?"
"Up the river," cried Ned in astonishment. "Know any more English?Where do you live? How far is it away from here, and what's your name?"
The boy in the boat threw out his line again, and burst into a shout oflaughter, greatly to Ned's annoyance, for it sounded derisive; but therewas no opportunity for further attempts at communication, for their boatswept round the bend, and it was plain enough whence the fishers hadcome, for, beautifully situated in a lake-like curve of the stream, theycould see quite a pretentious-looking village with what was evidently amosque, and just beyond it, a strong-looking stockade. The houses wereof exactly the same type as those they had before passed, but inaddition there were several of considerable size, whose sides were wovenin striking patterns, while dense groves of cocoa, betel, and nipahpalms added to the beauty of the scene.
Along the shore a dozen or two of boats were drawn up, while floatingalone and doubled in the mirror-like water was a large prahu on whosedeck several men were lolling about. Just then a naga or dragon, boatcame swiftly from behind it, propelled by a dozen men in yellow jacketsand scarlet caps, and three or four showily-costumed Malays could beseen seated and standing in the shade of the awning, which, like that oftheir own boat, was of palm-leaves or attap, but far more neatly-made.
"What place is this, Hamet?"
"Don't know, sir," he said. "Never been so far. It must be CampongBukit, and that is one of the rajah's boats."
"What rajah?"
"Rajah of Dah. Great prince."
"Ah, well, we may as well stop and land, and I daresay we can buy somefresh fruit and chickens and rice. What's that?"
"Ibrahim says don't stop--not good place," replied Hamet, for one of themen had whispered to him.
"Oh, but Mr Wilson said this was an important village, and that therewere English people here."
The question of stopping or not was soon decided, for by a dexterousturn the dragon boat was swept across them, their way stopped, and oneof the Malays beneath the awning shouted something imperiously to themen.
Hamet replied in Malay, while Murray strained his ears to try to pick upthe meaning of some of the words, without success, and then turnedimpatiently to Hamet.
"What do they want?" he said.
"To know who you are, sir, and where you are going."
"Tell him to mind his own business," said Murray, sharply, and to Ned'sgreat delight. "No; it would be uncivil. Tell him I am an Englishgentleman travelling for my pleasure, and that we are going to land tolook at the place and buy provisions."
This was duly interpreted, a fresh answer made, and permission given,the naga being kept close alongside as they all rowed for what proved tobe quite a respectable landing-place, that is to say, a roughly-madejetty formed by driving bamboos into the sand and mud.
"Ask him if there are not some English people here," said Murray toHamet.
"No, uncle, don
't. Look there, in front of those trees, there's anEnglishman with a white umbrella, and a lady with a parasol. Oh, I say,what a shame; she's using an opera-glass--and you said we were coming upinto quite a savage place."
"So I did, Ned," said his uncle, rubbing his ear; "but I can't help it.Civilisation crops up everywhere now, and they say you can't get awayfrom cotton prints and Staffordshire pottery without running up againstSheffield knives."
"But it is so disappointing. I say, look, and there's another lady, andthey're going on to that jetty to see us come in. There'll be asteamboat call next, and I daresay there's a railway station somewhereamong the trees."
"Never mind, Ned," said Murray, with a comical look of chagrin in hiscountenance. "We'll only buy what we can and be off again directly. Icertainly didn't expect this. Why, there's another Englishman," hesaid, more loudly than he had intended, for they were close up to thejetty now, and the man of whom he had spoken, a red-faced youngishfellow in flannel shirt and trousers and a straw hat, said loudly:
"Not a bad shot, sor. Make it Oirish, and ye'll be right."
"I beg your pardon," cried Murray, hastily raising his hat, and thesalute was returned. "What place is this?"
"Dirthy Bucket, sor. Campong Bukit they call it. Are ye from homelately?"
"From England? Yes."
All this was said as the boat glided along by the bamboo posts, andMurray added hastily: "Perhaps you would not mind helping us. We wantto buy some provisions--something to eat."
"Buy something to ate?" said the man, smiling. "Whisht, here's themasther and the ladies.--Here's an English gentleman, sor."
There was rather an angry buzzing here from the dragon boat, as thegentleman with the white umbrella came on to the jetty, the two ladieswith him remaining behind, while quite a little crowd of Malays began tocollect on the river-bank.
"English gentleman?" said the newcomer. "Glad to see you, sir. FromSingapore, I presume!"
"Not just lately; we have been staying at Dindong. We were on our wayup the river, and this place seemed a likely one to lay in a store offresh provisions. Am I right?"
"Perfectly. Come ashore, my dear sir. Your son?"
"Nephew," replied Murray, and Ned bowed stiffly.
"Just as welcome in this savage place. This way; my bungalow is a verylittle way off."
"But my boat, guns, and the like?"
"Be safe? Tim, jump in and take charge, while the gentlemen come up totiffin."
"But, sor, there'll be nobody to--"
"Oh, never mind; we'll manage. My factotum, butler, footman, groom,everything," continued the stranger. "Did those fellows bring you in?"
"Not exactly. They showed us the way."
"Hem!" said the stranger, with a dry cough; and he put up his whiteumbrella again. "Mind the sun?"
"Oh, no; we are getting a bit acclimatised."
"You're lucky then; I'm not. My dears, gentlemen from home. Mr--Mr--?"
"Murray."
"Mr Murray. My wife and daughter. Oh, by the way, forgot to introducemyself: Barnes, Doctor Barnes, resident physician to His Highness theRajah of Dah, in whose capital you stand. My dear, Mr Murray and hisnephew have kindly consented to take tiffin with us."
"You are very kind," said Murray, hesitating.
"No apologies are necessary," said the elder of the two ladies, rather ayellow, quick-spoken body; and she made as if to take the newcomer'sarm. "We are only too glad to see a fresh face--a white one, are wenot, Amy?"
"Indeed we are, mamma," said the bright-looking girl addressed, and in ahalf-amused way, she took Ned's arm as her father went on in front.
"I little thought of seeing English visitors," she continued. "Shall Ibe impertinent if I ask why you have come so far?"
"Oh no!" said Ned rather brusquely, for he resented the questioning."Uncle and I have come up on a sporting and natural history trip. Weare going on directly."
"Indeed! Then the rajah has given you leave?"
"What rajah? The man here?"
"Yes," said the girl, smiling.
"Oh no! We did not know it was necessary. Uncle will ask him then, Isuppose. Does he call it his property?"
The girl looked round at him in surprise,--
"Oh yes; he is the rajah or prince of the country."
"Yes; but I thought all this belonged to the Queen."
"Well, I suppose it does, but our prince here thinks he is as importanta person as the queen of England, and does exactly as he likes."
"Oh!"
"You must recollect that we are a very very long way from Singaporehere, and, excepting what he has been told of England and her power, therajah knows very little about our country, and laughs at my father as ifhe were telling him romances when he talks of our army and ships ofwar."
"He must be awfully conceited, then."
"He is," said the girl laughing. "I believe he thinks he is thegreatest monarch upon earth."
"Then you are the only English people here?"
"Oh no. We have Mr and Mrs Braine and their son, and Mr and MrsGreig."
"Who are they?"
"Mr Braine is a gentleman papa recommended to the rajah. He wantedsome one to advise him and help him to introduce English customs, and todrill his army. Mr Greig is a merchant who lives here to purchase theproduce of the country to send down to Singapore. You will see them, Idaresay, for they are sure to come in as soon as they know that you arehere."
"It all seems very funny. I thought we were coming into quite a wildplace where there were elephants and tigers, and great snakes and birdsthat we could collect."
"Well, it could not be much more wild," said the girl, smiling."Directly you get past our house the dense jungle begins. We arecompletely shut in by it, except in the front here by the river. Wild?You will hear the tigers as soon as it is dark."
"But I shall not be here," said Ned, laughing.
"I think you will," said the girl, looking at him curiously.
"Oh no; my uncle has quite made up his mind about what he intends to do,and nothing can change him."
"Indeed! We shall see. Here we are."
They had been passing through the place with its houses dotted about inthe most irregular fashion, just as the builders had felt disposed toplant them, and now came upon an attractive-looking bungalow similar incharacter to the others, and like them raised on bamboo piles seven oreight feet from the ground, but with numberless little additions such aswould be made by an Englishman. Notably a high rustic fence enclosing alarge garden planted liberally with tropic shrubs and flowers, and abroad flight of steps leading up to a great open verandah which rannearly along the whole of the front, and over which the attap roof wasbrought to rest on clusters of bamboo formed into pillars, up which ranand twined in profuse growth passion-flowers and other creepers.
"What a delightful place!" cried Ned. "Why, it's quite a treat to see agood garden. Look at the fruit!"
"Mamma is very proud of the garden, and--"
"Come along, squire," said the doctor, from the head of the steps."Welcome to the Fernery."
Murray was already seated at a well-spread table, upon which a couple ofMalayan women, in neat cotton sarongs woven into an attractive plaid,were placing plates and dishes, and they greeted the newcomers with alook of surprise and a smile.
"There, gentlemen," said the doctor, "you could not have arrived at amore opportune time, but you must excuse all shortcomings. We keep upold English customs as well as we can, and can give you coffee and eggs.No fried bacon, squire," he added laughingly to Ned. "You are whereour genial useful old friend the pig is an abomination. Why, it's fiveyears since I've tasted a sausage, or a bit of ham. But we can give youa curry of which I am proud. Eh, my dear?"
"Mr Murray will let a hearty English welcome make up for anythinglacking," said the doctor's lady. "He knows that we are in thewilderness."
"A wilderness with bamboo chairs, a table, a clean cloth, glass, plate
,napkins, and flowers and fruit," cried Murray. "Why, my dear madam, youforget that we have been picnicking in a boat. There, don't spoil yourwelcome by apologies!"
Then there was a busy interval during which the greatest justice wasdone to an excellent meal, and Ned was initiated into the mystery ofsambals--tiny saucers of pickle-like and preserve preparations, popularamongst the Malays as appetisers, but quite needless in Ned's case, forhe was perfectly independent of anything of the kind, and after hiscurry and coffee, now the first chill of strangeness had passed, paidplenty of attention to the fruit pressed upon him by the doctor'sdaughter. Now it was a deliciously-flavoured choice banana with a deeporange skin, now a mangosteen, and then a portion of a great durian, ascrap or two of which he ate with some reluctance.
"Hallo!" said the doctor after a glance at his daughter, "you are notgetting on with your durian, sir. Pray take some more; it is our kingamong fruits."
"I--I am afraid it is not a good one," stammered Ned, looking ratherred.
"Eh? not a good one?" cried the doctor, tasting a piece. "Delicious,just in perfect condition. Ah, you have to acquire that taste. Nowthen, the ladies will excuse us, and we'll have a cigar here in theshade."
He clapped his hands, and one of the Malay women brought a box ofmanillas.
"No, I don't think I'll smoke," said Murray. "You will not think merude, but if you will excuse us, and put us in the way of getting whatwe want, I should be grateful."
"My dear sir," said the doctor, "you must see our other Englishresidents. They are only waiting to give us time to finish our meal,and really you cannot go as yet."
"Indeed!" said Murray, smiling, and noticing that the ladies both lookedserious.
"Well, you see," said the doctor rather confusedly--"do pray light acigar, I'll set you an example--you see there is the rajah."
Ned looked up sharply at the doctor, and then darted a look ofintelligence at his daughter.
"What about him?" said Murray abruptly.
"Well, you see," said the doctor, hesitatingly, "he might think--but youare going shooting and collecting, you say?"
"Yes."
"Well, you ought to ask his permission."
"What!" said Murray, laughing. "My dear sir, you talk as if this were agentleman's estate, and he kept gamekeepers."
"Well, yes," said the doctor, smiling; "it is so on a large scale."
"How far does it extend? We will not begin shooting till we are quitebeyond his patch."
"How far?" said the doctor thoughtfully. "Ah, that is a difficultquestion to answer. It was hard to say before the late encounters withthe Rajah of Padang; now the territory is more than doubled. I thinkyou had better send in a request. Ah, here is Braine!"
"And Mrs Braine and Mr Greig," added the doctor's lady, rising fromher chair.
This ended the conversation, just when Ned saw that his uncle wasgrowing annoyed at the doctor's opposition to his plans, and he glancedround to see that his neighbour was looking at him intently.
"I thought you would not be able to go away to-day," she whispered, asshe rose and went with her mother to meet the visitors at the foot ofthe steps, the doctor having made an apology and gone too.
"What did that young lady say to you, Ned?" said his uncle in a lowtone.
"She thought there would be some difficulty in our going on to-day."
"Oh, nonsense! These people lead an idle life, and they want every onethey see to stop and play with them. I don't want to be rude, but weare not going to dawdle about here; and as for this petty chief--allrubbish!"
At that moment a tall stern-looking man, in loose white clothes and apith helmet, came up the steps. His face was darkened almost to thetint of a Malay's, and he had a quick anxious look in his eyes, which,with his rather hollow cheeks, gave him the aspect of one who had latelybeen ill. He advanced with open hand.
"Glad to meet you, Mr Murray," he said. "It is a pleasure to see acountryman."
"That speech will do for me too," said a rather harsh voice, and akeen-looking gentleman of about fifty, with his face deeply lined and aquick expression and manner which at once stamped him as shrewd, nowshook hands warmly with the new arrivals, while directly after asubdued, handsome-looking woman was led up by the doctor's lady.
"Let me introduce you two," said the hostess. "Mrs Braine is an ardentbotanist, Mr Murray, and I'm sure that you will enjoy a chat together.She knows all our flowering plants here by heart."
"I am very pleased to meet Mr Murray," said the newcomer in a sweet sadvoice. "I hope he will let me be his guide to some of the nooks on theriver-bank, where the jungle can be penetrated."
"I should only be too glad, my dear madam," said Murray; "and I can findno words to express my thanks--our thanks, I should say--for yourcordial reception here of a perfect stranger; but my nephew and I haveonly put in to buy a bag of rice and some fruit to replenish our stores,and we are going on directly."
Murray ceased speaking, and looked sharply from one to the other, for hehad seen Mr Braine raise his eyebrows and glance at the doctor and theshrewd keen-looking man. The doctor laughed, and took up the cigar box.
"Have a smoke, Braine?" he said.
"Thanks," was the reply; and the newcomer took a cheroot in the midst ofa rather constrained silence.
"I hope I have not said anything wrong," continued Murray, who feltpiqued at the manners of those about him, for the ladies began talkingtogether in a subdued tone.
"Oh dear me, no!" said Mr Braine hastily. "You are shooting andcollecting, I think?"
"We have not begun yet," replied Murray, quickly; "but that is why wehave come."
There was another pause.
"I am afraid you will give me the credit of being somewhat of a bear,"continued Murray, "and really, Doctor Barnes, I am most grateful to youand your charming wife and daughter for your hospitality."
"Oh, pray, say no more," said Mrs Barnes. "You confer a favour on usby coming, though you have given us no English news as yet."
"And I am afraid, my dear madam, that I shall have time to give you verylittle. At the risk of being considered rude, I must ask you to excuseus now."
The doctor frowned and looked at Mr Braine, who glanced in turn at theshrewd elderly man, and he immediately searched for a silver snuff-box,and then spent a great deal of time over taking a pinch.
"Really, gentlemen," said Murray, quickly, "all this is very strange. Ican hardly think you credit me with rudeness in being hurried."
"Oh no, Mr Murray, not at all," said the doctor's lady.--"Mr Braine,why do you not explain?"
"Well, really," said that gentleman, "I thought an explanation shouldcome from you as the host and hostess, but I will do my best.--The factis, Mr Murray, this country is something like the west coast ofScotland in the old days, when every chief had his stronghold."
"Oh yes, I have noted that," said Murray, smiling; "and I see that theyhave both the plaid and dirk, though you call them sarong and kris."
"Exactly. Well, my dear sir, the chief, rajah, prince, or whatever youlike to call him, is omnipotent here."
"Not always, Mr Braine," said the doctor's lady, merrily. "I think myhusband rules over the rajah."
"Only when he is ill, my dear, and he is the most refractory patient Iever had."
"And you see there is a certain etiquette to be observed here,"continued Mr Braine. "We would do everything we could to help you toprocure your provisions, and say God speed to your journey, but we arehelpless."
"Indeed!" said Murray, flushing. "You mean that as we have come we mustask the rajah's permission to go: I shall do nothing of the kind.Gentlemen, we will start at once."
Mr Braine made a deprecatory sign,--
"Excuse me," he said. "You speak like one of us--like an Englishman,but my good sir, this is not England, and we are beyond the range of thelaw courts and the police. I say this is not England, nor is itSingapore. We are not many hundred miles from where the English rule iswell in
force, but here, to all intents and purposes, we are completelyin the power of a barbarous chief."
"But this is absurd!" cried Murray; "surely the Governor of the StraitsSettlements would crush out any piece of oppression directly, or anyoutrage on a British subject."
Mr Braine smiled.
"The British lion is very strong, sir," he said; "but he is well fed anddrowsy. He knows that he has only to lift his paw, or perhaps only tolash his tail, to get rid of troublesome animals or stinging insects,but it is very hard to get him to do this. No doubt if Rajah Sadi wereto behave very badly, the war-steamer on the station here would come upthe river as far as she could, and then send an expedition in boats withplenty of jacks and marines, and perhaps a few soldiers, but not untilthere had been a great deal of red-tape unwound, declarations sent toand from London, and perhaps a year would have passed before the helpcame. Then the rajah would be punished, if they could catch him, andhis stockade and village be burned. But most probably he would knowfrom his people when the expedition was coming, and mount his elephantswith his court, and go right away into the jungle, after sending hisprahus and other boats up one of the side-streams where they could hide.Then the expedition would return and so would the rajah; the bamboohouses would be rebuilt, and matters go on just as before."
"You are making out a very bad case, sir," said Murray, biting his lipto keep down his annoyance, "but I shall not hesitate as to my plans."
"You mean that you will go on at once?"
"Certainly," said Murray; "and let them try to stop us if they dare."
"Humph!" said Mr Braine, raising his brows a little. "You doubt thenthe likelihood of the rajah's people interfering with you?"
"Excuse me for seeming rude to you in my incredulity, but I do doubtthis."
Mr Braine smiled again.
"I presume," he said, "that when your boat came up you were boarded bythe rajah's naga."
"Yes."
"And you saw that she had a well-armed crew?"
"I noticed that the men all wore their krises, and that spears werehanging in slings from the covered-in part."
"Exactly. That boat boards every vessel that goes up or down the river,and all pay tax or toll to the lord of this district, and have to awaithis permission before they can stir."
"Then," said Murray, sharply, "you consider that we are prisoners?"
"No; I do not go so far as that, but you are in the realm of a pettyindependent prince, who is something of a despot, and for your own sakeyou must submit to the customs of the country."
"But this is ridiculous!" cried Murray, angrily. "Ladies, forgive mefor being so abrupt, but people from the old country resent coercion inevery form. I'll be as polite to your rajah as a gentleman should be,but I am not going to have my plans upset by a savage. Ned, my lad,we'll see if they dare interfere with us."
"I beg you will do nothing rashly," said Mr Braine, for Murray took astep toward the ladies, and held out his hand smilingly.
"Good-bye," he said frankly. "I am going some distance up the river,but I hope you will let me make your acquaintance again on our return."
"You are not gone yet, Mr Murray," said the doctor, shortly; "and Iadvise you, sir, to practise prudence for both your sakes. As Iexpected, here are the rajah's people; I thought that they would not belong."
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