The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-10-27

, slaves, each holding a certain thing in case
he might need II. one had a betei box.
another a cigar box and others articles OF
the toilet. Near him sat the Crown Prince,
who also had five slaves about him. The
Crown Prince wore a blue silk Jacket and
a gorgeous sarong. He had on a black cap.
and his long hair hung down his back. He
| had a great kris in his belt, and as he came
Up to the pavilion his bare-backed servants
! carried an umbrella over him. / got a
closer view OF him going out. He is of a
light yellow color. having very bright black
, eyes. His teeth are jet black and filed to a
point. as are those of most OF the women
and men in the palace.
As We took our seats the Sultan's band
played. 1t was stationed at the back oil
the court. and its musical instruments were
sounding boards. drums ard bells peculiar
to Java.
A son OF THE SULTAN.
Next the chief actor of the day appeared
This was the son of the Sultan, who was
to he made n full-fiedged Mohammeoan
through certain unmentionabie ceremonies
which were performed by the Mohammesan
priests In little pavilions of white silk in
| front of the pavilion where We sat. The
boy was Just ID years old. He came into
the court bowling low and sat down cross
legged in front of the pavilion facing his
Majesty. He was gorseously dressed. all IN
/ green and gold. He wore n jacket of green
silk. a SCOOP shovel hat of green satin ana
a sarong of green and silver. He spanked
with diamonds. His arms were bare ana
also his legs from the knees to the feet. but
his skin was busted with n yellow powder
which glistened like gold as the rays of the
rising sun fell upon it. After he sat there
a moment the Sultan raised his hand and
the boy started to go to his father. He
first took off his kris or sword and laid 1t
down upon the ground, for nc one dare ap
proach his Majesty with arms upon his per-
son. Next he folded his hands in an atti-
tude of prayer and bowed low before the
Sultan. He then crawled forward a few
steps and again bowed as in worship. He
| kept on crawling and bowling until he at
last reached his fathers feet Here he
knelt again in reverence and then kissed
the instep of the foot his father held out
and then the knee. After this he crawled
back to his old position. never rising to his
feet. This custom must be observed by all
natives who approach the Sultan. The
mobiles have to crawl along on their
launches and heels and the Prime Ministers
do the same.
After this the boy was taken in hand by
the Monammedan priests and carried to the
pavilion, the band playing a weird air as
they went. The operation was performed
behind the curtains while the Moham-
medans prayed. and at its close the thou
sands outside broke out into songs of re-
joicing.
Inc ceremonies enOeQ with the serving OF |
tea and cakes to the party in the pavilion.
The Sultan. the Dutch resident and all Eu-
ropeans took part in this feast. We drank
tea grown in Java out of cups of beautiful
china, and at the same time the Sultan
and the resident drank out Of cups of gold.
Then we said good-by to the Sultan. and
the Crown Prince and the Dutch resident,
with their retinues. marched out together.
We following behind.
CITY OF THE KING.
On the day after this reception / spent
some time In exploring the palace city.
Djoktakarta has over 10000 people. l judge.
but 1t is about and outside the city of
the King proper. 1 took a carriage
and drove through the walls of his Majes-
TVS municipality and then went up ono
avenue and down another. going through
hundreds of acres covered with the houses
and huts of the mobiles and servants of the
court. / passed by great trees trimmed in
the shape of umbrellas. They had a foliage
like lockwood. but their branches and leaves
formed an umbrella shaped mass as big as
a haystack. Imagine the biggest haystack
you have ever seen trimmed to the shape
Of a wheel of green 100 feet or more in
diameter. 20 feet thick, resting upon a
great round trunk. perhaps 20 feet high.
and you have one Of the warrington trees of
the Sultan's palace grounds. The palaces
proper are enormous structures of one story i
with many rooms. The Sultan has a big
harem. He has the right to take any wom-
an in his kingdom to wife. and when the
daughters of the mobiles reach a marriage
able age they are brought to him, and he
picks out such as he chooses and directs
that they remain in the palace. The mobiles
are anxious TO have their daughters in
the palace. for a pretty girl is sure to get
her father and brothers good. fat jobs. as !