The Jasper weekly courier., 1874-07-17
Life Ina Sumatra.

This plantation-life Of Sumatra cor
tanned a combination Of the widest in-
congruities imaginable. The place Il can
MT say the house We lived in. for il was.
In truth, nothing more than very large
barn or stablcl was matched with GfGps
Lpon unhewn rafters. without any ceiling.
On either side were stalls partiti0n,d on.
something higher than a mans head.
which We regarded as our bedrooms: and
in mine had pink-and-gold French bed
stead, elabOrately fiounoed and curtained
in lace. with the finest linen sheets and
! pillow-cases 10 match. and. once inside
this nest, | could imagine myself in Paris.
The flooring was Of Species Of teak.
which had taken high polish. like oak
from the constant freading of the bare feet
OF the servants and natives Windows we
had none. Venetian shutters serving all
needs for keeping out the rain; and the
wooden rails. 10 prevent our falling
through the wide apertures, reminding
one of a manger. In the center were the
drawing and dining rooms. all in a piece.
which in barn would have been the
thrashing-fioor; and al the open end might
usually be- seen seated the ladies of the
iamily-notably. pretty Jayanese de-
moiselle. embroidering caps. satchels. and
I eigar-ca>es for her numerous admirers. for
she was atiny. coquettish creature. with
mischievous gray ewes. meliowed into ten
der light by long. dark fringe>; she was
I the belle OF Sumatra. and would have
been a gem anywhere.
/ AT the other end of the apartment. rath-
er dim from lack of windows, WAS the
dining-roon. or. | should say. the dining
| takle--a mighty slab cut from single
tree-at which we could easily dine
| twelve persons. covered by a fine danask
4 table-cloth. the remains Of official state in
the court of the Netherlands. for our host
(, was Dutch nobleman. Here we ftslsted
I somewhat Sumptuouslv (being served
upon rich. old-fashioned PLATED upon fish.
game. fowl. Dutch condiments OF every
variety. Java currics. and wine from all
the ends Of the earth. and of course excel
lent Java coffee.
We Were attended upon by a retinue OF
Javanese and Malays. the former wearing
white trousers. with the red sar0ng twist
ed around their miidles. blue jackets. and
yellow kerchiefs round the head. tied with
the ends drOOping on one side. or sticking
up 80 n 10 resemble feathers. and their
brown feet bare-rendering the whole
scene wildly picturesque. The bamboo
chairs. which were OF Chinese make. had
10 be covered with the hide Of some wild
animal. 10 prevent the mosquitoes and
a swarm OF such like insects. from dining
of u while We did Justice 10 the good
fare. for the Dutch have an objection To
the pliHka. which alone in the East gives
peace az mesll-times.
Beetles Of every form. hue and size. in
yaded us in troops. but flew of Beyond
the reach of our fans and missiles. into Il c
top Of the hay-loit or raftcrS. Myriads OF
,tumpy gra>ShOppcrs. OF "A transparent
green. like emerald dissolved i'm dew.
jumped around the Parian lamp: beasts.
all legs. or with invisible bodies. sfaIked
about the vacant spaces Of the table-clOth:
creatures with immense gosSamer wings.
and ruby-scintillating bo~oms. fiutiered
around the very mOrsel Of fruit being con-
veyed 70 the lips; and flying squadron Of
cockchaiferS rushed across the table.
bounding into ones lap: enormous moths.
a. big a swallows. tapped languidly about
in the loft. or leisurely descended 10 in
spect articles on the table. or to ascertain
what was the matter. when some elephant
beetle had fiOundered into ones wine.
causing vast spluttering and commotien.
Altogether. we had lively time of il.
The structure was elevated about thirty
feet on pegs BY pegs | mean bamboo
sticks. very slender in proportion 10 the
bulk they sustain. not guiiar-pegs. or
clothes pegs or cribbage-pegs. or the
drinks have heard men cal pegs" or
the old-iashioned implements for washing
clothes. called ''peggys." There are NOR
al pegs. too: the pegs too high. and the
pegs too low. with the disagreeable pro-
cess Of being taken down "A peg or two:"
in tact the English language j. detestable
10 write. a. there are dozen meanings to
the same word. But upon bamboo stills
stood our domicile. often swaying and os-
clllating as under san Francisco earth
quake. The elevation was necessary on
account Of the damp during the rainy sea
SON. and as a safeguard against the tigers
at all times.
Through the apertnres or hangers we
could see the virgin forest closing round
us. the distant line Of mountains To the
west. and hear the tigers, too. not quite so
distantas we could have wished them.
The principal adornmeni of the drawing
room was a splendid grand-piano. on
which the Juno-like mistress of the man
sion performed Beerhoven'S son;Gas and
Mendelssohn's pathetic music. She was a
large. stately woman. TO whom quick
movements Were unknown. She had
large. soft. white hands and feet. saas bas.
wore the Javanese slippers, which. a. they
have only toes and no heels. display
pretty. white foot 10 advantage. besides
being the greatest luxury one can have in
this warm climate. She had. also. large.
soft. white face. which expressed gentle
ness. talent and helplessness. She had
nine white lap-dogs. which fringed the
hem of her garment when she moved. and
settled upon IL when she set down. and
which barkcd In chorus when any one en-
tered the barn. no matter whether friend
or foe. but Immediately became recOnciled. Z
and welcomed the stranger by jumping
upon him in every direction. and inundat-
ing him with fleas.-Coamtsss Aronn0rc's
4" Trareis ArOand the World.-
The color Of old curtains and chairs. I