Morning journal and courier., 1883-12-12
In Sumatra.

In full assembly of the court on 8 high occasion, the foremost places in front of an open dancing epaoe would be occupied by the Penyimbapgs of various orders, with those of less rank to right and left; facing them sat the women of high rank, and behind stood the general public Lining the open space in front of the Penyimbangs squatted the boad- jangs, or unmarried youths, facing the young maidens in like position in front of the peeresses. The sight is gay one. All are in their best attire, the general crowd in whatever garments please their fancy best, but generally of the gayest colors of coats and headcloths, and sarongs suspended by large silver and gold buctled belts, with ivory and gold handled krisses stuck in the waist; the women--for those that stand round have all been married-more sombrely, wearing the matrimonial symbol, the soe- loeng, necklet of massive silver or gold rings strung, except for little piece in front. immovably on cylinder of the same metal, and the thick stud-G earrings, the only naments that their severe laws permit to those who have known the bonds of wedlock. Here and there among the crowd crownless, boot-shaped hat, made of card board and bound round with gold plate, indicates that the wearer is childless wife. The young unmarried men are simply astired in 8 sarohg of bright color, supported by belt fastened by buckle of greater Or less value, suitable to his rank, with the corresponding number of krisses stuck in it, and with a headcloth tied about his temples in the fashion of his district. but from the waist upward naked-a custom which one sees also at the cerenoni4 ous court of the Sultan of piokokerta in Java. The center of attraction is the long l line of naidenhood, glittering in silver and gold of native workmanship. The hair of each girl, neatly arranged and odoriferous from abundance of cocoanut and cajeput oil, | is tied in knot behind, and transfxed by & lrol -I..Sl her head is crowned with 8 coconet (sggar)
 of gold, of form and magnifcence according
 to her panekati ashawl, worn sashwise, hangs
 from the shoulder to the ground, while from above the middle hangs a rich saropg or pet ! ticoat fof homegrown and spun silk, inter woven with gold thread and decorated with hundreds of small coins of the Dutch mint
 which jingle pleasingly as she dances Above this the body is girt with silk slendang, half concealing the breasts The arms, shoulders and chests are bare, except for the numerous gold or silver collars and necklets and brace lets of patterns peculiar to her marga, with which she is loaded. Often these collars are entirely composed of the large dollar pieces of Spain, Holland and Mexico, and not rarely English half-crowns. Of the highest born maidens the arms from the wrist to the elbow are almost concealed by the display of pure
 'barbaric gold,'' for they may wear as many bracelets as they choose, while their sisters, less fortunate in the matter of blood and rank, must conform to the regulation num- Der corresponding to their degree The breast is overlaid with crescent-shaped gold plates, suspended in tiers; the waist is girded by belt of one of the precious metals secur- ed by an elaborateiy carved buckle of the same material. The rather bony fingers are encircIed with many rings, and even the nails are heightened by additions of silver into tslon-like claws, so that altogether the Lam- pong maiden presents dazzling appearance in the dim uncertain light-especially when it is behind her-of a lamplit Balai The cost of such costume represents no mean sum; it is no rare thing for a girl to have as much as e1OO worth of ornaments about her person at a festival