We shook hands, and for some minutes there was a dead silence.

Then the Rajah asked what we wanted; to which Mr.Ross replied by endeavouring to make them understand who we were, and why we had come, and that we had no sinister intentions whatever; and that we had not brought a letter from the "Anak Agong," merely because we had thought it quite unnecessary.

A long conversation in the Bali language then took place, and questions were asked about my guns, and what powder I had, and whether I used shot or bullets; also what the birds were for, and how I preserved them, and what was done with them in England.

Each of my answers and explanations was followed by a low and serious conversation which we could not understand, but the purport of which we could guess.

They were evidently quite puzzled, and did not believe a word we had told them.