The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1896-01-02

] they emerge, shvering In the morning
air and only half awake, make for the
nearest stream to battle or bring water
/ for the days use. Half naked coolies
from the neighboring plantations trot
rapidly by, with baskets of fruit or vege-
tables slung across their shoulders.
while an occasional early rcksha cody
is seen, looking for an early passenger.
The shop keepers display their goods,
the itinerant vendor of Chinese delica-
cies, smoking hot, pauses occasionally to
supply the wants of some hungry cody.
Once outside the city, the road lies
through plantations of pepper and pine
apples; dense jungles, where the vegeta-
ton crowds down to the very edge Of
the road. bespeak the eXubcrdnt growth
of the island, where the warm, sultry,
moist climate produces most abundant
growth. From Bukit Tina, half way
across the island. we are pulled in our
light running rickshas, by strong,
sinewy coolies, with little apparent ia
tigue.
The ceremonies at Johore began with
the proclamation of the new Sutan's ac-
cesslon. This took place in the "Bdlai
cara" or Coronation Hall, a fine large
building, cruciform in shape. in the
center Of which was raised dais upon
which the Prince Tunku Ibrahim, with
the high dignitaries of state took their
positions Admission was by card,
which enabled the Europeans and invit.
ed guests to witness the ceremony with
out being subjected to discomfort. The
walls we're draped with the royal yellow,
as vas also the dais. The platform was
in the center. while the arms of the cross
were occupied by the European and OIL
cial guests, the Army and Navy officials,
the Diplomatic Corps, resplendent in
official dress, on the one side. The
Chinese headmdn and towkays, with
characteristic costumes, and buttons in
dicating various grades Of the Mandarin
order were on the othes side, while the
center was occupied by the mobiles and
digntaries of Johore.
Near the dais stood the Dqto Mafti, or
chief priest, in his long robes of Office !;
while near by, were representatives of
the various native states. awaiting the
arrival Of the Prince On his arrival,
the proclamation was read. and the poo
pie signfied their acceptance of their new
ruler. He is fine, well built young man,
whose military uniform and rich decOra-
tions set of his figure to good advantage.
He accepts the honor conferred, is con
graduated by the Governor of the
Straits Settlements in behalf If Her
Majesty the Queen, and amid the boom
ing of cannon, the cerem ny is conclud-
ed.
The guests then adjourn to the I.tama,
here an elaborate lunch was provided
during which the arrangements for the
nterment OF the dead sultan, were com
pleted. 70 our great surprise, intOXleat-
ing liquors were prominent feature OF
this lunch. Considering the fact that
The code OF ISLAM PROMPTS the use OF
strong urlhk, we hHTuly expected tflal Oh
sueh an occas on ~ thls, II Wouln De pro
Vided Tor others TO drink Bat so II was
ahd "hlSkcy, claret ana champagne HON
ed freely.
Strange inconsistency thIS W men
Mrs IcaVltt, the w. {. ]. l. round the
World missionary was III singapore, she
visited JohOrc, ana had an lnterYle"
Win me late sultan III when ne de-
ciared himself IA total abstalner, aud tH-
pressed ms regret that many OF MS
young men were lorsahing the teachings
oI lslalh, ana Following the example ol
the "Ofahg luteh or 'Whlte men -
so-called Christians. Ana yet TINS same
sultan derived goou part OF ms re-
venue from the licensing OF lhe SAFE OF
9Piiit7' "Plu'" an" Soil"itnS "hi'"S i'9
people. what wonder that ms young
mel 30 astray After all Is not TINS
same course pursued by many OF our
Christian natlons? Inc sultan ) regret
was well founded Tor many OF the
Malays are becoming AS drunken ana
dissolute as thelr lliustrlous helghDors'
the Europeans
Inc Doom OF gun from the fort, ap-
n0unced That the hour Tor the funeral
had arrived. BeIore the door OF the
lstana the huge funeral car, with It's
elaborate decorations, was awaiting the
remains, which up to this time had re-
posed in the Throne room. Here they
had renamed IN state Tor seven days,
under military guard, Whlle at the pier,
was detail OF officers OF the household
VINO under command oi Penghulu
watched by turns, WINE relays OF Tour
liadlls, relieved every two hours until
the burial, read or repeated passages
from the Koran. thus, for seven days,
amid chant and prayer and native
symbolism the body reposed
The casket was heavily draped with