HOW THEY DO IN THE EAST.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 936, 1 October 1910, Page 11

HOW THEY DO IN THE EAST.

A NATIVE PLAY. . . To: go to a play in tie East must be the quaintest thing in the world, and possibly a joy that-might in time pali. At any rato tie first" time'of : seeing is very interesting to. the maii or woman from' l the West, and .tlie.. programme alone 'is worth studying. One that tW writer lias just . lately seen, advertises itself as the .International ■ Dramatic' Company of Penaiig, and enthuses over the ..English costumes,, the . English music,, find tho English scenery;. ■' The company played in Ipolr for a short season. ' ,The story as explained/oil. a brilliaiitly-coloured programme ,runs , as. follows with.few.stoppages:— .' •. ! [There' was a- gentleman, named 'Ed-' ward Williani'who, arrived from Calcutta and;made his residence in Batavia and' was married .to ;a. Nyoriya! -This piece really,; happened..and-is . quite f.trio in' Batavia.] . i--.';,-■.-'.• ;■ 1. An by~ the .name of : Edward . William; .who- was married to' aNyonya by/the name of' Dasima and she had 'adaughter' by./the naiiie' of r>ancy, aft'er' he Jiad resigned his. situation,;'liej .his; 'child;,went ;to, uve,in _another , 'called,6am- ; bir. Kali Chilewong in .Bataria aiid'.got another situation in an ; . office there, Dasima was. well known to, everybody in Batavia -owing':to iher riches, aiid sho loved her! hdsband .very, mucli .that , all ■the public wisli to become acquainted with her. . V:'V : , „ ,2-:, Another mM by . tlie name of Baba cannon in;Batayia had. a wife by the: I^e i1 of■■. ; ..■%o4ya•.:,^.Hayati,'■'.and••''• his mother 5... name , was : .'Eripok.- ;■• These together had a conspiracy that; it.they. couM- succeed'in getting Dasima, tlipre would: bo' nothing than: ■ having ;Dasima's money. " 'Samion' an old'woman by the-name Jlakbuyoag who was .Very cleverin' .'doing ;■;' witchcraft 'sent 1 for her and /inquired .if. she woiilcL .be able .to get. Dasima . to come,tp:;his house-; she to ,this' and went.tp an.-oldi. man,;by ..the name of Haji. Salehori. and ..between both ; together.;; they got some.'inedicine for the ready' and after it hid been given Dasima-'s love' towards Edward William grew cold and 'all .her heart was for Baba' Salmon after shfe \left. her 1 husband : 'arid : , child and. went . to. Baba Salmon's -house; with a;, lot of jewellery .which was. presented to her before' she/left her husband's; house., Baba, Samion called .a. robber, and arranged with: him- that at a certain time .at. a .certain ,spot■;he..would '. brin" 'Dasima; and the. robber . was to kill her for which Baba Samion>. will, reward ;bim : well.i \ The 'arrangement, -was' carried ■ out and, during, the miirder/ tli'ere'were' two ;fishermen who witnessed'''the , aifair, : and ;saw the .body", being; th'ro<vn into a : flowing- riye'r. One/day Nancy, ;Edward ■William s daughter,;,went'doit 1 ;,with ; her ayah to. play by the-side; of 'this river, when'the ball .accidentally/'fell into tho river, and as she. looked in. to. see, if .she could get ;it. shel was 'surprised ■: to. see a body, and on calling . for her father- ■ to; his surprise it was his J own' wife.; He : ait once sent for an inspector, /who/is called' a' scout in Batavia ; after: many days the. police' managed to cat-ch-the robber ivho. killed.'Dasima 'and-ithe .witnesses-they.could get, :arid they:were' all tried' before the Court,' and ' sentence was passed on Passa, : the robber ;jto be; hung. / , Baba ; : Samion kilii him-,' .self while in:prisoii..abd:Makbuyong : be;camG';,ravin]g .mad and '.'Baba Samion's, se'ryaht...named, Kuhtoii^was;,'set'' frpe, ..and tho twQ.-fis'hermeii ing 800. Guilders: ;

"•..j.There; is- excitement .enough: for-,'most: people 'and : one/.cknnot.' but-/admire the' .stem -justico and , impartiality : with 1 which.: is; punished' and - virtue rewarded. . -Our ' own;melodrama': ■'could; hot do better, This dialogue '.is ■ all 'iii j Malay,;. also the rou;jo and the' a Klip !Boyle of .'alleged. Irish and fJ ap'anese. .Malay extraction, Carid of (once; more;. alleged) ravishing ■;beauty.. She jsuhgiher. songs .in a. fnlsetto-.voice after-the. native fashion. The most' of ' the! women' - were- iot-. much. to' look a I and they .seemed to embrace all• the; shades and Mends.of; Malay- and' Cingalese: / .There was some- dancing:'including '.the inevitable ;' .'?Cboukma'(th<3 scene of: this piece being .laid' ifl Japan), but ; it -was.not',,.wildly: exciting: . 1.,. The. audience';' was thoroughly. • representative of the ,-cbuntry. V'c The.- 'gallery, reserved for-Jadies,'ovas' filled ! witfc,slalay and Chinese' l wbineh. aind ■ their -children:'-Downstairs,-tM;second:and third scats .were at, the; back arid 1 were i'occiipied - bv'Malays and Chinese. .The first-class an<l .reserved seats ha-d a Europcan sprinkling t ;which..patrohisea', the,; bar" on;-their rignt a*nd talked irrespective' of - the play ;. ,but.;the -rest-were - Chinese. . sian, and Japanese./'.Possibly' half 'of these 'were;womenv with-'their attendant ducunas or' .cavaliers.Chinese- ."boys"' passed, among . tho • seats ; selling fruit, peanuts, etc.; Taken altogether it was': .not, :wEat you,.might call a demonstrative audience; 1 -arid .hardly : anything -was. applauded with energy. : ■'