midnight
On their landing , the flocking together of the inhabitants , and the noise of the music , announced that something more than usual was going on . On inquiry , the pilot captain informed them that the rajah of the village , who had ascended the river to perform his vows at some distant shrine , had not returned at the time that he was expected , and that the natives were afraid that some accident had occurred , and were in consequence propitiating the deity . `` You will now have an opportunity of beholding a very uncommon sight , which is the propitiatory dance to Shivu . There is no occasion for hurrying on so fast , young gentleman , '' continued the captain to Courtenay ; `` they will continue it till midnight . '' `` How excessively annoying that ` captain of his own ship ' is , '' observed Courtenay to Macallan . '' ` Young gentleman ! ' As if he could not see my epaulet . ''