The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1896-10-28
At A MALAY PICNIC.
A JOLLY Day o. SIMPLE PLEASURES
III TIE JUNGLE

A JOLLY Day O. SIMPLE PLEASURES
III TIE JUNGLE
Old s.nd Young aIinsle Together and Are
Happy-So Tiresome Advance Prepara-
tior of Feod-Aow Fish Are Captured
and Cooked For the Banquet.
Of all picturesque sights Malay pic
mic is one Of the prettiest. With the first
dawn of morning the start is made.
Nothing as yet can be seen distinctly.
4 few saffron arrows of light are thrown
up in the eastern horizon, and distant
mountain heads begin to glow. Simul.
taneously a stir arises in the village,
and gaping villagers of all ages begin to
issue ont from their graceful atap houses
and make toward the place of rendez-
vous. By the time the party has gather
ed, some 20 minutes, the horizon seems
to explode, wide rush of orange light
sprecds near and far, and the great hot
sun comes UP, painting. Then follows
the most delicious hour Cf tho day. A
hundred huvs CT green are brought out
into shining relief. every dewy leaf be-
comes prism il which rainbows float.
The jungle life awakens iuto is morn
ing psalm, brilliant birds twitter and
coo together seeking the early bug, gor-
eeoCs butterflies come forth to dry their
spanglcd wigs on leafy shrubs, while
far in the jcngle often tho hoarse, gut
tural, fearst:ne growl Of the Malayan
tiger sounds bass to ;he chorus.
The picnickers are now under way.
Before them is a march Of six or seven
miles through virgin jungle and open
spaces Of country. That will consume
some two or rhree hours. Some Of the
females are mounted upon elephants
if there are any well to do families in
the village They sit very gracefully on
their lofty mounts and enjoy the ride,
if we may Judge from their faces and
frequent peals of laughter. Nest Of the
party is afcot. They are in holiday cos
tune. A finely woven saroNg Of cotton
or silk forms the lower garment Of men
and women alike. Tie sarc2s is many
hued and the most graceful of gar
me1ts. 1t consists Of a piece of material
of suitable length sewed together at the
side, both ends being open. The upper
eud, il wea. ing, is tucked neatly and
tightly together with the hand and
held securely around the waist by
belt. Sometimes these krosaHgs, or
belts, are richly jeweled and worth as
much IS 2,CoO silver dollars. But we
shall not see that sort at picnic. The
upper garment Of men and women alike
is cloth or cotton Jacket (kabaia). In
stead Of buttons the women use for fas-
Jennings a number of gold Or silver
brooches. Tho men largely affect brass
buttons. Ger this jacket the females
wear another sarong, which is made to
meet over the head, and serves the
damsel IS shade, and when she
pleaseS 'as veil The feet Of all are
protected by kind Of wooden sandal.
All these garments are loose, are poem
for harmony CT colors, and there IS no
fold that does violence TO beauty and
grace. This is 4 poor enough picture of
our picnic party, or 20 or 100 Malay
men, women, boys and girls passing,
joking and laughing along their pleas
ure way. The braves carry some spears
and paranss, in case tiger Or leopard
molest. The fair bear along { little rice
and curry spice. The bulk Of provisions
they trust Tuhan Allah to provide ct the
picnic. ground. ''How very nice, 1
hear the gentle lady reader say. "Why,
preparation of meats and pies and con-
fections, you know, is such bother. "
Our outing party now feel that they
have gone Tar enough and they may
halt, no mater Just where-for every
where IS loTaly-so long as they are IN
the vicinity Of q mountain and its water
pools. So pool is chosen as one likely
to contain in its black depths suf-
fciency Of good, fat fish. Tho men at
onco prepare to dynamite this pool, or
else throw the fish paralyzing tuba root
into the water. Then 20 men leap into
the pool, while number CT women are
stationed at the shallow and lower end
to catch tho escaping finny tribe. Ah,
no big fish are caught! They must be
lying dead or Demanded at the bottom
OF the pool. And now the boldest swim
mers dive il and far down. They search
the bottom, tLey even thrust their hands
into the water filed caves Of the rocky
sides. Ore by one the divers come pant
ing up. So.1e of them grasp IN each
hand great, shining, sil7ery fish. What
luck! Two i,sh at a time, each 10 or 10
Founders. Then the stolid Malay relaxes,
he shouts, he praises Allah, and the
whole camp becomes q scene OF reJolc-
ing, as the spoil is flung alive into the
pot Of already boiling water, or squirms
grilling, roasting, frying, On ground
fires kindlei by boys and girls as the
prey was being taken. Rice is also pre-
pared, and lcfore long the whole party is
seated around the green banquet board,
enjoying fish rs you like 1t and curry
and rice such as only the Malay house
wife can ccncoct. The joysome meal
finished, the parry betakes itself to smok-
ing. chewing berel and telling stories,
under all Of which influences it IS not
surprising that the next scene is gen.
eral siesta, which lasts till about )
O'Clock, when the old man Of tho party
wisely observes It is getting late and it
is time to be starting back. Night must
not overta3:o them, Or they may meet
Stripes or Spots, out also for picnic,
and vastly rreferring fresh meat to fish.
New York independent,
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