The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1896-04-05
AT A MALAY PICNIC.
A JOLLY DAY OF SIMPLE PLEASURES
IN THE JUNGLE.

old and Young MlnEle Together and Are
Happy-No Tiresoms Advance frepAra-
tion Of Food-How Fish Are Captured
aad Cooked For the banquet.
OF all picturesque sights n Malay pic
mic is one Of the pretiiest. With the first
dawn of morning the start is made.
Nothing rs yet can be seen distinctly.
A few saffron arrows Of light are thrown
up in the eastern horizon, and distant
mountain heads begin 60 glow. Stimuli
taneously a stir arises in the village,
and gaping villagers Of all ages begin TO
issue out from their graceful atap houses
and make toward the place Of render
vouS BY the time the party has gather.
ed, some 90 minutes, the horizon seems
TO explode, a wide rush Of orange light
spreads near and far, and the great hot
sun comes up, painting. Then follows
the most delicious hour Of the day. A
hundred hues Of green are brought ont
into shining relief, every dewy leaf be-
comes prism in which rainbows float
The jungle life awakcns iuto its morn.
ing psalm, brilliant birds twitter and
COO together seeking tho early bug. gor-
geous butterflies come forth to dry their
spangled wings ON leafy shrubs, while
far in the Jungle often the hoarso. gut
tural, fearsome growl Of the Malayan
tiger sounds bass to tho chorus.
The picnickers arc 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 three hours. some Of the
females are mounted upon elephants
II there are any we'll 60 do families in
the village. They sit very gracefully ON
their lofty mounts and enjoy the ride,
IL we may judge from their faces and
frequent peals Of laughter. Most Of the
party is afoo;. They arc in holiday COS
tune. A finely woven sarong Of cotton
or silk forms the lower garment Of mon
and women alike. Tho sarong IS many
hued and tho most graceful Of gar
monts. II consists Of picco Of material
Of suitable length sowed together at the
side. both ends being open. Tho upper
end, In wearing, is tucked neatly and
tightly together with tho hand and
held securely around tho waist by
belt Sometimes these kroangs. or
belts. are richly jeweled and wogih as
much as 2.O0O silver dollars. But We
shall not see that sort at a picnic. The
upper garment Of men and women alike
is q cloth or cotton jackCt tkahaial. In
stead Of buttons the women use Tor fas-
Jennings a number Of gold or silver
brooches. The men largely affect brass
buttons. Over this jacket the females
Wear another sarong. which is made 10
meet over the head. and serves the
damsel as a shade. and when she
pleases a. a veil Tho feet Of all are
protected by kind Of wooden sandal.
All these garments are loose. are a poem
for harmony Of colors. and there Is no
fold that docs violence TO beauty and
grace This is 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 parangs, In case tiger or leopard
modest. The fair bear along little rice
and curry spice. The bulk Of provisions
they trust Tuhan Allah to provide at the
picnic ground. "How very NICE" !
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 far enough and they may
halt. no matter just where-for every
Ill. l...s. - al.a.s -. -.