d three or four showily-costumed Malays could be
seen seated and standing in the shade of the awning, which, like that of
their own boat, was of palm-leaves or attap, but far more neatly-made.

"What place is this, Hamet?"

"Don't know, sir," he said. "Never been so far. It must be Campong
Bukit, and that is one of the rajah's boats."

"What rajah?"

"Rajah of Dah. Great prince."

"Ah, well, we may as well stop and land, and I daresay we can buy some
fresh fruit and chickens and rice. What's that?"

"Ibrahim says don't stop--not good place," replied Hamet, for one of the
men had whispered to him.

"Oh, but Mr Wilson said this was an important village, and that there
were English people here."

The question of stopping or not was soon decided, for by a dexterous
turn the dragon boat was swept across them, their way stopped, and one
of the Malays beneath the awning shouted something imperiously to the
men.

Hamet replied in Malay, while Murray strained his ears to try to pick up
the meaning of some of the words, without success, and then turned
impatiently to Hamet.

"What do they want?" he said.

"To know who you are, sir, and where you are going."

"Tell him to mind his own business," said Murray, sharply, and to Ned's
great delight. "No; it would be uncivil. Tell him I am an English
gentleman travelling for my pleasure, and that we are going to land to
look at the place and buy provisions."

This was duly interpreted, a fresh answer made, and permission given,
the naga being kept close alongside as they all rowed for what proved to
be quite a respectable landing-place, that is to say, a roughly-made
jetty formed by driving bamboos into the sand and mud.

"Ask him if there are not some English people here," said Murray to
Hamet.

"No, uncle, don't. Look there, in front of those trees, there's an
Englishman with a white umbrella, and a lady with a parasol. Oh, I say,
what a shame; she's using an opera-glass--and you said we were coming up
into quite a savage place."

"So I did, Ned," said his uncle, rubbing his ear; "but I can't help it.
Civilisation crops up everywhere now, and they say you can't get away
from cotton prints and Staffordshire pottery without running up against
Sheffield knives."

"But it is so disappointing. I say, look, and there's another lady, and
they're going on to that jetty to see us come in. There'll be a
steamboat call next, and I daresay there's a railway statio