The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1882-06-11

well matched With the leaves of palm.
trees, in which the Rsjah and bis
lattsendsnts might eat and sleep al
!; the Close of each day. .sIlag rrr
Add when all was ready, the prin.
ces and priests and chief men came
again to the Rajah to LelI him what
bad been done, and to ask him when
he would go up the mountain. And
ne liked day, and ordered every
man OF rank aud authority 10 accom-
pany him, to do honor to the great
spirit who had hid him take the jour
Hey, and to show how willingly they
obeyed his commands. And then
there was much preparation
throughout the whole island. The
best cattle we're killed, and the meat
sailed and sun dried. aud abundance
of red peppers and sweet potatoes
were gathered, and the tall pinaug-
trees were climbed for the spicy betel-
nut, the sirih Leaf was tied up in
bundles, and every man filed his to-
bscco- pouch and Limerick TO the
brim, 80 that be might not want fC
any OF the materials for chewing the
refreshing betel during the journey.
And the stores of provisions were
sent on in advance. And on the
day before that appointed for start
ing, all the chiefs, both great and
small, came to Mstarlm, the abode
of the king, with their horses and
their servants, and the bearers OF
their sirih. boxes, and their sleeping
mate, and their provisions. And
they encsmped under the tall war.
ingin-trees that border al tie roads
about Matsrsm. and with blazing fires
frighted away the ghouls and evil
spirits that nightly haunt the gloomy
avenues.
In the morning a great procession
was termed to conduct the Rails to
the mountain; and the royal princes
and relations of the Rajah mounted
their black horses. whose tails swept
the ground. They used no saddle
or stirrups, bat sat upon a cloth OF
gay colors; the bits were of silver, and
brides of many-colored cords. Tie
less important people were or small
strong horses of various colorE, we'll
suited to a mountain journey; and
(even the Rajahl we're bare-legged to
above tho knee, wearing oGly the
gay-colored cotton waist cloth, silk
or cotton jacket. ard a large hand
kerchief tastefully folded round the
head. Every one was attended by
one or two servants bearing his sirih
and betel boxes, who were also
mounted on ponies; and great num-
bers more had gone on in advance. or
waited to bring up the rear, The
men in authority were numbered By
hundreds, and their followers By
thousands, snd all the island won
dered what great thing would come
OF it.
For the first two days they went
along good roads and through many
villages which were swept clean. and
where bright cloths were hung out at
the windows; and sll the people, when
the Raiah came, squstted down upon
the around in respect, and every man
riding got of his horse and sQuatted
down also, aud many joined the pro-
cession at every village. At the
place where they stopped for the
night. the people bad placed stakes
along each side Of the roads in front
of the houses. Hhese were split
crosswise at the Cop, and in the cleft
were fastened little clay lamps, and
between them we're stuck the green
leaves of palm trees, which, dripping
with the evening dew. cleaned pref
tily with the many twinklDg lights.
And few went to Eleep that night till
morning hours, for every house held
q knot of eager takers, and much
betel-nut vas consumed, and endless
we're the conjectures what would
cone 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 stream of cold and spark
ling water. And the Rsjah's hunters,
armed with long and heavy guns,
went in search OF deer anu 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 midday 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
by small party of priests and prin-
ces, with their immediate attendants;
and they toiied YEARLY up the rugged
way, aud sometimes we're carried by
their servants, till they passed above
the great trees, and then among the
thorny bushes, and above them again
on to the black and burnt rock Of tue
highest part of the mountain.
And when they were near the sum-
nit the Raiah 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 to carry 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 sInoke and van0r,