the golden chersonese and the way thither-第30节

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enhanced　by　the　good　taste　and　skilful　workmanship　of　the　setting。　The
first　necklace　was　of　diamonds　set　as　roses　and　crescents；　some　of　them
very　large；　and　all　of　great　brilliancy；　the　second　of　emeralds；　a　few
of　which　were　as　large　as　acorns；　but　spoilt　by　being　pierced；　the
third　of　pearls　set　whole；　the　fourth　of　hollow　filigree　beads　in　red；
burned　gold；　the　fifth　of　sapphires　and　diamonds；　the　sixth　a　number　of
finely　worked　chains　of　gold　with　a　pendant　of　a　gold　filigree　fish　set
with　diamonds；　the　seventh；　what　they　all　wear；　a　massive　gold　chain；
which　looked　heavy　enough　even　by　itself　to　weigh　down　the　fragile
little　wearer；　from　which　depended　a　gold　shield；　on　which　the　Chinese
characters　forming　the　child's　name　were　raised　in　rubies；　with　fishes
and　flowers　in　diamonds　round　it；　and　at　the　back　a　god　in　rubies
similarly　surrounded。　Magnificent　diamond　earrings　and　heavy　gold
bracelets　completed　the　display。

And　all　this　weight　of　splendor；　valued　at　the　very　least　at　40；000；
was　carried　by　a　frail　human　mite　barely　four　feet　high；　with　a
powdered　face；　gentle；　pensive　expression；　and　quiet　grace　of　manner；
who　came　forward　and　most　winsomely　shook　hands　with　us；　as　did　all　the
other　grave　gentle　mites。　They　were　also　loaded　with　gold　and　diamonds。
Some　sugar…plums　fell　on　the　floor；　and　as　the　eldest　girl　stooped　to
pick　them　up；　diamond　solitaires　fell　out　of　her　hair；　which　were
gathered　up　by　her　attendants　as　if　they　were　used　to　such　occurrences。
Whenever　she　moved　her　diamonds　flashed；　scintillated；　and　gave　forth
their　blue　light。　Then　came　the　children　of　the　richest　Chinaman　in
Malacca；　but　the　little　gentle　creatures　were　motherless；　and　mourning
for　a　mother　lasts　three　years；　so　they　were　dressed　in　plain　blue　and
white；　and　as　ornaments　wore　only　very　beautiful　sapphires　and　diamonds
set　in　silver。

Do　not　suppose　that　the　Chinese　New　Year　is　a　fixed；　annual　holiday
lasting　a　day；　as　in　Scotland；　and　to　a　minor　extent　in　England。　In
Canton　a　month　ago　active　preparations　were　being　made　for　it；　and　in
Japan　nine　weeks　ago。　It　is　a　〃movable　feast；〃　and　is　regulated　by　the
date　on　which　the　new　moon　falls　nearest　to　the　day　〃when　the　sun
reaches　the　15　degrees　of　Aquarius；〃　and　occurs　this　year　on　January
21st。　Everything　becomes　cheap　before　it；　for　shopkeepers　are　anxious
to　realize　ready　money　at　any　loss；　for　it　is　imperative　that　all
accounts　be　closed　by　the　last　day　of　the　old　year；　on　pain　of　a　man
being　disgraced；　losing　all　hope　of　getting　credit；　and　of　having　his
name　written　up　on　his　door　as　a　defaulter。　It　appears　also　that　debts
which　are　not　settled　by　the　New　Year's　Eve　cannot　thereafter　be
recovered；　though　it　is　lawful　for　a　creditor　who　has　vainly　hunted　a
debtor　throughout　that　last　night　to　pursue　him　for　the　first　hours
after　daybreak；　provided　he　still　carries　a　lantern！

The　festival　lasts　a　fortnight；　and　is　a　succession　of　feasts　and
theatrical　entertainments；　everybody's　object　being　to　cast　care　and
work　to　the　winds。　Even　the　official　seals　of　the　mandarins　are
formally　and　with　much　rejoicing　sealed　up　and　laid　aside　for　one
month。　On　the　20th　day　of　the　12th　month　houses　and　temples　are
thoroughly　washed　and　cleaned；　rich　and　poor　decorate　with
cloth…of…gold；　silk　embroideries；　artificial　and　real　flowers；　banners；
scrolls；　lucky　characters；　illuminated　strips　of　paper；　and　bunches　of
gilt…paper　flowers；　and　even　the　poorest　coolie　contrives　to　greet　the
festival　with　some　natural　blossom。　　There　is　no　rest　either　by　night
or　day；　joss…sticks　burn　incessantly；　and　lamps　before　the　ancestral
tablets；　gongs　are　beaten；　gingalls　fire　incessantly；　and　great
crackers　like　cartridges　fastened　together　in　rows　are　let　off　at
intervals　before　every　door　to　frighten　away　evil　spirits；　there　are
family　banquets　of　wearisome　length；　feasts　to　the　household　gods；
offerings　in　the　temples；　processions　in　the　street　by　torch　and
lantern　light；　presents　are　given　to　the　living；　and　offerings　to　the
dead；　the　poor　are　feasted；　and　the　general　din　is　heightened　by
messengers　perambulating　the　streets　with　gongs；　calling　them　to　the
different　banquets。　When　the　fortnight　of　rejoicing　is　over　its　signs
are　removed；　and　after　the　outbreak　of　extravagant　expenditure　the
Chinese　return　to　their　quiet；　industrious　habits　and　frugal　ways。

Just　as　this　brilliant　display　left　the　room；　a　figure　in　richer
coloring　of　skin　appearedBabu；　the　head　servant；　in　his　beautiful
Hadji　dress。　He　wore　white　full　trousers；　drawn　in　tightly　at　the
ankles　over　black　shoes；　but　very　little　of　these　trousers　showed　below
a　long；　fine；　linen　tunic　of　spotless　white；　with　a　girdle　of　orange
silk。　Over　this　was　a　short　jacket　of　rich　green　silk；　embroidered　in
front　with　green　of　the　same　color；　and　over　all　a　pure　white　robe
falling　from　the　shoulders。　The　turban　was　a　Mecca　turban　made　of　many
yards　of　soft　white　silk；　embroidered　in　white　silk。　It　was　difficult
to　believe　that　this　gorgeous　Mussulman；　in　the　odor　of　double
sanctity；　with　his　scornful　face　and　superb　air；　could　so　far　demean
himself　as　to　wait　on　〃dogs　of　infidels〃　at　dinner；　or　appear　in　my
room　at　the　Stadthaus；　with　matutinal　tea　and　bananas！

This　magnificence　heralded　the　Datu　Klana；　Syed　Abdulrahman；　the
reigning　prince　of　the　native　State　of　Sungei　Ujong；　his　principal
wife；　and　his　favorite　daughter；　a　girl　of　twelve。　It　has　been　decided
that　I　am　to　go　to　Sungei　Ujong；　and　that　I　am　to　be　escorted　by　Mr。
Hayward；　the　superintendent　of　police；　but；　unfortunately；　I　am　to　go
up　in　the　Datu　Klana's　absence；　and　one　object　of　his　visit　was　to
express　his　regret。　This　prince　has　been　faithful　to　British　interests；
and　is　on　most　friendly　terms　with　the　resident；　Captain　Murray；　and
the　Governor　of　Malacca。　During　his　visit　Babu　interpreted；　but　Miss
Shaw；　who　understands　Malay；　said　that；　instead　of　interpreting
faithfully；　he　was　making　enormous　demands　on　my　behalf！　At　all　events；
Syed　Abdulrahman；　with　truly　exaggerated　Oriental　politeness；　presented
me　with　the　key　of　his　house　in　the　interior。

This　prince　is　regarded　by　British　officials　as　an　enlightened　ruler；
though　he　is　a　rigid　Mussulman。　His　dress　looked　remarkably　plain
beside　that　of　the　splendid　Babu。　He　wore　a　Malay　bandana　handkerchief
round　his　head；　knotted　into　a　peak；　a　rich　brocade　baju　or　short
jacket；　a　dark　Manilla　sarong；　trousers　of　Mandarin　satin　striped　with
red；　a　girdle　clasp　set　with　large　diamonds；　and　sandals　with　jeweled
cloth…of…gold　straps。　His　wife；　though　elderly　and　decidedly　plain
looking；　has　a　very　pleasing　expression。　She　wore　a　black　veil　over　her
head；　and　her　kabaya；　or　upper　garment；　was　fastened　with　three　diamond
clasps。　The　bright　little　daughter　wore　a　green　veil　with　gold　stars
upon　it　over　her　head；　and　ornaments　of　rich；　red　gold　elaborately
worked。　The　Datu　Klana　apologized　for　the　extreme　plainness　of　their
dress　by　saying　that　they　had　only　just　arrived；　and　that　they　had
called　before　changing　their　traveling　clothes。　When　they　departed　the
two　ladies　threw　soft　silk　shawls　over　their　heads；　and　held　them　so　as
to　cover　their　faces　except　their　eyes。

There　are　now　sixty…seven　thousand　Malays　in　the　British　territory　of
Malacca；　and　the　number　is　continually　increased　by　fugitives　from　the
system　of　debt…slavery　which　prevails　in　some　of　the　adjacent　States；
and　by　immigration　from　the　same　States　of　Malays　who　prefer　the
security　which　British　rule　affords。

＇The　police　force　is　Malay；　and　it　seems　as　if　the　Malays　had　a　special
aptitude　for　this　semi…military　service；　for　they　not　only　form　the
well…drilled　protective　forces　of　Malacca；　Sungei　Ujong；　and　Selangor；
but　that　fine　body　of　police　in　Ceylon　of　which　Mr。　George　Campbell　has
so　much　reason　to　be　proud。　Otherwise　very　few　of　them　enter　British
employment；　greatly　preferring　the　easy；　independent　life　of　their
forest　kampongs。＇

The　commercial　decay　of　Malacca　is　a　very　interesting　fact。*　Formerly
fifty　merchantmen　were　frequently　lying　in　its　roads　at　one　time。　Here
the　Portuguese　fleet　lay　which　escorted　Xavier　from　Goa；　and　who　can
say　how　many　galleons　freighted　with　the　red　gold　of　Ophir　floated　on
these　quiet　waters！　Now；　Chinese　junks；　Malay　prahus；　a　few　Chinese
steamers；　steam…launches　from　the　native　States；　and　two　steamers　which
call　in　passing；　make　up　its　trade。　There　is　neither　newspaper；　banker；
hotel；　nor　resident　English　merchant；　The　half…caste　descendants　of　the
Portuguese　are；　generally　speaking；　indolent；　degraded　with　the
degradation　that　is　born　of　indolence；　and　proud。　The　Malays　dream　away
their　lives　in　the　jungle；　and　the　Chinese；　who　number　twenty　thousand；
are　really　the　ruling　population。　　
＇*Linscholt；　two　hundred　and　seventy　years　ago；　writes：〃This　place　is
the　market　of　all　India；　of　China；　and　the　Moluccas；　and　of　other
islands　round　about；　from　all　which　places；　as　well　as　from　Banda；　Java；
Sumatra；　Siam；　Pegu；　Bengal；　Coromandil；　and　India；　arrive　ships　which
come　and　go　incessantly　charged　with　an　infinity　of　merchandises。〃＇

The　former　greatness　of　Malacca　haunts　one　at　all　times。　　The　romantic
e