The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-03-17
AT A MALAY PICNIC.
A JOLLY DAY OF SIMPLE PLEASURES
IN THE JUNGLE.

and Cooked For tho Banquet.
OF all picturesque sights Malay pic
mic is one of the prettiest. With tho first
dawn of morning the start is made.
Nothing as yet can be seen distinctly.
a few saffron arrows Of light are thrown
up in the eastern horizon, and distant
mountain heads begin to glow. Stimuli
taneously 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 rondez-
vous By the time the party has gather
ed, some 20 minutes, the horizon seems
to explode, 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 awakens into its morn
ing psalm, brilliant birds twitter and
COO together seeking the early bug. gor-
geous butterflies come forth to dry their
spangled wings ON leafy shrubs. while
far in the jungle often the hoarse, gut
tural, fearsome growl Of the Malayan
tiger sounds bass to the chorus.
The picnickers are now under way.
Before them is 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
If there are any we'll 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. Most Of the
party is afoot. They are in holiday cos
tune. A finely woven sarong of cotton
or silk forms the lower garment of men
and women alike. Tho sarong is many
hued and the most graceful Of gar
ments. 1t consists Of piece Of material
of suitable length sewed together at the
side, both ends being open. The upper
end, in wearing, is tucked neatly and
tightly together with the hand and
held securely around the waist by q
belt. Sometimes these krosangs, or
belts, are richly jeweled and worth as
much MS 2,000 silver dollars. But we
shall not see that sort at picnic. The
upper garment Of men and women alike
10 cloth or cotton jacket (kabaia). In
stead of buttons the women use for fas-
Jennings q number of gold or silver
brooches. The men largely affect brass
buttons. Over this jacket the females
wear another sarong. which is made to
meet over the head, and serves the
damsel as 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 Of colors, and there is no
fold that does 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 O 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
where is lovely-so long as they are in
the vicinity Of a mountain and it's water
pools So n pool is chosen as one likely
to contain in its black depths q suf-
flciency of good, fat fish. The men at
once 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 Of women are
stationed at the shallow and lower end
to catch the escaping finny tribe. All,
no big fish are caught! Thoy must be
lying dead or benumbed at the bottom
of tho pool And now the boldest swim
mers dive in and far down. They search
the bottom, they even thrust their hands
into the water filled caves of the rocky
sides. One by one the divers come pant
ing up. Some Of them grasp in each
hand great. shining, silvery fish. What
luck Two fish at time, each 10 or 5
Founders. Then the stolid Malay relaxes,
he shouts, he praises Allah, and the
whole camp becomes q scene of rejoic-
ing, as the spoil is flung alive into the
pot of already boiling water, or squirms
grilling, roasting, frying, on ground
fires kindled by boys and girls as the
prey was being taken. Rice is also pre-
pared. and before long the whole party is
seated around the green banquet board.
enjoying fish as you like it and curry
and rice such as only the Malay house
wife can concoct The joysome meal
finished, the party betakes itself to smok-
ing. chewing betel and telling stories,
under all of which Influences it is not
surprising that the next scene is gen.
eral siesta, which lasts till about 3
O'Clock, when the old man of the party
wisely observes it is getting late and it