ld present him with a ruby of equal value to that which I had shown
him before I left the island.

While the messenger was absent on his mission, Mahomet gave me some
interesting information regarding his Malayan Majesty. The king, he
said, owned a large number of horses, as well as elephants, all having
magnificent trappings. He was at no expense in time of war, for all his
subjects were obliged to march at their own expense, and to carry with
them provisions for three months. In peace time his Majesty's living
and that of his household cost him nothing, for his subjects supplied
him with all kinds of provisions. He was, besides, heir to all those of
his people who died without male issue, and to all foreigners who died
within his territories, while he succeeded to the property of all those
who were put to death for offences against the law.

From this it will be seen that the revenue of this prince is very
considerable, and that he is personally interested in the death of
foreigners within his kingdom, whether from natural causes or in the
execution of the law, of which he is the sole arbiter.

CHAPTER XLVII

KING TRINKITAT

The space of an hour had barely elapsed since the sending of the
messenger to King Trinkitat of Sumatra, announcing my arrival in his
dominions, before an answer was brought me that his Majesty desired my
attendance at the palace forthwith, so I made ready to accompany those
he had sent for me, and who acted as my bodyguard.

The king's palace stands in the middle of the town, its grounds being
oval in shape, and about a half-mile in circumference, surrounded by a
moat twenty-five feet broad, and as many deep. All round the palace
there are cast up great heaps of earth instead of a wall, planted with
reeds and canes that grow to a prodigious height and thickness. These
reeds are continually green, so that there is no danger of fire. There
is no ditch or drawbridge before the gates leading to the palace, but,
on each side, a wall of stone, about ten feet high, that supports a
terrace on which some guns are planted. A small stream runs through the
middle of the palace, which is lined with stone, and has steps down to
the bottom of it for the convenience of bathers. There were four gates
and as many courts to be passed before we came to the royal apartments,
and in some of these outer courts are kept the king's magazines of
rifles and cannon. Here also are stalls for the king's elephants.