52 LIFE IN JAVA.
nation were in the deepest mourning. This colour, I believe, is adopted on account of its durability.
The roads near the fort are shaded by avenues of trees, which, from a distance, completely conceal the walls from view. I noticed that all buildings of a similar description, which I had hitherto seen in the island, were planted round with tall trees, some of them so completely hidden behind bamboo hedcres as to be almost concealed from sio;ht. This arrangement is intentional the argument in its favour being that the trees serA^e as a kind of screen, by which, in time of war, the number of guns would be concealed from the besieging force ; and not only this, but in case of necessity they might answer the purpose of gabions, &c., to stop a breach, or strengthen a weak part.
I was told that, up to the period of twelve or thirteen vears ago, the drawbrido-es of both front and postern gates were drawn up every evening, and lowered the next morning. A small guard, too,
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