The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1882-10-07
CHAPTER XVIII.
The widadiri at the Marriage.

Umba clasped in his arms. who chung now closer
to his bosom and then the great and fearless
chief, breaking the dead stiffness that prevailed
in the Pavilion, cried out-'' 1t is the blessed
who gave health and life to thee, my
loved one in the forest"
This beauteous genius Of the forest Was lovely
beyond the expression Of words. The Malay
story tellers picture their widadiri with surpass-
ing language. This one presented the figure of a
slender symmetric virgin OF seventeen partly
robed in white 6eecy cloud and veilIpgs of
azure sky The radiance from q heart moving
face of innocence and sweetness thrilled with de-
light every trembling soul Of those who had dared
to glance at the vision of charming grace. Her
face. reused up the senses. like a trumpet. and
wakened sweet emotion like the fragrance of a
rose. And il was all me radiant pearl tint, with
the deep sea she'll ever varying Irridescent glow.
Her amber tinted crown OF luxuriant hair fell in
q mass OF tiny glossy ringlets. below her cloud
encireled waist. Her eyes we're as the softened
twinkle of the great stars. IN II uponiit glory.
Her lips were rory and sparkling like the tender
scarlet skin Of Z ic sI Iunidtn apple. tier neck
was an IVORY t.wer 81 bliss and her bosom II
cloud shaded valley OF delight. The contour of
her graceful form VAS diIniy outlined through an
enyeluping yarpr uf incense and every move
ment of her dlrntv round maiden limbs was at
tended with mclri, and fragrance in the stilled
and tremulous air.
This w idadirI, named Cu-oe, was IL creature OF
Malay poesy who delighted in the je-samine groves
Of the mountains OF Sumatra. even as LllinOe,
the Hawaiian mOuntnin maid of the mist ham 3
even now the wooded slopes and Tecesses oil Halea-
kala. The widadiri was IA ministering priestess
Of the great goddess Arjuno, and often sent by
her, to proclaim some mission of justice, bevevO-
lence, and mercy among men.
This bright being now neld "a white and gold
champaka jessamine blossom in her hand. She
approached the Princess Umba, and placing the
40 wer upon her bosom within the fold of her
dress, spoke thus in words of wonderful musical
tone 20, good and faithful Princess Thy
true love for thy Lord, makes thee favored OF
Arjuno and the most blessed among all the
princesses of the sacred island. Keep this flower
in thy bosom three days. and after "A time. thou
shalt conceive d daughter. who shall become the
great Queen OF all the Malay Islands and Peo-
pies
When Lak.amana heard these words, ho said
boldly 20, beautiful, favored one OF Heaven !!
Let il not be a woman, to love. to suffer and to
weep but a man to strike and rule men, and
defend women" TO this the Widadiri replied.
90, great chief, beloved of Arjuno, do not gTieve
that a daughter shall be born unto you two. For,
know that the righteous goddess ArJuno will
have Justice return to the Palace and Kingdom of
Menangkabau. There was a Princess, OF the
true and royal line of Alexander, cast out into
the wilderness, where she died but not before
she bad given birth to a child and that child
was stolen away from his nurse, by the wild peo-
pie OF the forest, and was nursed in the tree tops,
till he became a valiant and mighty man of the
forest, and rescued the good and lovely princess
of Mia, and he now stands by her side"
On hearing these words, the people lying pros
traIe around, partly overcoming their fear, raised
up their heads, and shouted out 1.-The great
Chief. is our Chief; and of the true blood of
Alexander -
Yes" said the Widadiri .. the great Chief
is your true Chief and King. Hi: mother the
beautiful Princess Komala, was driven into the
forest. on account of her love for a brave young
| (tiof hv har ROYAL father fhp ureat KIM Sri
Pati. This King was afterwards dispossessed oil
the Throne OF Menangkabau by his perfdious
nephew Tuanku who justly died, afflicted with
disease and whose son King Sri Rama, now sits
on the Throne. and still holds his great Uncle the
lilustrious Sri Patti. a prisoner in the guarded re-
cesses Of the Lion Tower. Let him be brought
forth"
On hearing these words. the istening people
raised a great outcry. "The King, Sri Pati. is
not dead Bring out the concealed prisoner oil
the Lion Tower -
At n word from Laksamana. the captain OF
King Sapidln's guard. FASTENED to the Tower.
and alter a short delay he conducted into the Pa
viiion. an old STOPPING, trembling. white haired
man. He walked bowed with disease and suffer
ing. The light seemed to hrrt his panied vision.
and he appeared like one risen up out of "A tomb.
Then the Windadiri spoke Stand up U, Sri
Patti. Thou art master in thy Palace again. Be-
hold thy grandson. the child of thy Komala
whom thou dIdst drive INTO the wilderness. Thy
sorrow and repentance and sufferings have touched
the heart of Arjuno, To let thee see thy own blood
restored to greatness and glory.
AT these words the old man raised his arms,
and opened Ills eyes and mouth with gestures and
expressions Of wonderment. lie approached
Laksamana. lie said in tremulous tone - IL
this the child of my Komala? Take off thy
mantle, my son, and uncover thy left shoulder.
The nurse Peng told me the babe, had the blood
mark of Alexander, my blood mark. See here -
and as he spoke, he barred his left shoulder. and
at the base of the neck, in the hollow OF the
shoulder, was q striking blood mark. shaped
somewha like a champaka jessamine blossom.
And Laksamana had also barred his lett shoulder,
and there though partially concealed by a soft
down of hair. was the same mark, that appeared
on the shoulder of the elder; and this one behold
ing it and looking closely at the features OF
Lakeamana cried out. He is. He is, my lost
child's boy. My grandson, and heir Prince Sri
Datu, that was to be =" And he clasped the hands
Of Laksamana. But the great Chief, seized the
old man in his arms, and cried out. 30, veneer
able man My heart bids me love thee. Let us
sorrow together over that lost child and mother
and rejoice that one is found at last"
Then a mighty shout OF people arose in the
Pavilion. and in the Palace Halls and grounds.
Sri Patti lives Sri Patti lives Death to Sri
Rama, Sri Datu (Laksamana) the true heir
shall be King"
Then amid the noise and connection II beau
tiful widadiri waved her wand in the air, and all
the turmoil was husIed, and these words were
distinctly heard.
"Ho. Princes and people of Menangkabau.
You now behold the treason OF Sri Tuanku, and
see your true King restored to his own. This is
the doing of great Arjuno. Let her worship be
honored. And let peace prevail in Meuangka-
bau."
After thus speaking the Widadiri waved aloft
her floral wand. A soft cloud of incense exhaled
and rose around her. Sweet melodies thrilled
the air throughout the Pavilion. The dazzling
beauty Of the face of the lovely messenger now
shone with such overpowering brightness, that
the people shrank from gazing and all fell pros
trate on their faces, except L~aksamana. who
gaEsd earnestly with clssped hands at the mar
vellous maiden. As she moved away, she con-
tidued to gaze and smile with inefable sweetness
on Laksamana and waving her wand in a last
farewell, cried out, 80, favored of Arjuno :"
And passed away from view.
When the people in the Pavilion had recovered