On the Equator

n-?Life in Java-?Buitenzorg-?Koerapan-?Dutch Soldiers-?A Review-?Modes of Execution in t

fore us, as we intended making a journey to Java, the principal Dutc

of butterflies, three of the rare and lovely Brookeana amongst them. It may be of use to collectors of the latter to know that the safest and most convenient way of carrying them any distance is not to set them up when freshly caught, but to simply fold the wings back till they lie flat against each other, and pla

go, but also with over 100 deck passengers-Malays going on a "Haji pilgrimage" to Mecca. There was also on board an old Hindoo, the proprietor of a dancing bear, who had been making a good thing of it in the Sarawak capital. The captain, L., and I, were the only

y escaped being washed overboard by one of the green seas which we shipped over the bows. The Raja Brooke, however, behaved uncommonly well throughout, and by sundown there was nothing left of the turmoil but a long, heavy swell,

t Java; and the dinner being given in honour of the officers of a Dutch man-of-war then lying in the roads, we thought this a first-rate opportunity, but were doomed to

d singing "Die Wacht am Rhein" at the top of their voice-a performance hardl

that voyage, and still more disgusted were we when shown into a stuffy little cabin containing three bunks, in one of which a fat Dutchman had already retired to rest, the other two being L.'s and my resting-place. We made the best of a bad job, however, and turned in, but not for long; certa

attained by the Minister Frausen von der Putte was seven knots an hour, and I think the reader will agree with me that our journey across was anything but a pleasant one. We were not sorry, therefore, when at daybreak on the 31st of July the long low coast of Java came in sight, and shortly

xception of north and south-western Borneo. Java is, however, their most important colony, and Batavia they

less than five died within six months of its completion, and it has been found necessary to place Javanese in charge ever since, so unhealthy is the situation. Arrived at the custom-house we passed our boxes with some

s of Government House and the houses of all the officials and merchants in Batavia. Most of these houses are situated around the "K?nig's Plein," a large grass plain some 1,000 yards in circumference, which in the time of the English occupation was used as a racecourse. On one side of this stands the

cars now? Even the stately streets of Stamboul are not free from them. The street cab of Batavia is a "dos-à-

n to Weltereoden. As we drove along we saw hundreds of natives taking their morning dip in the dirty stream; thou

which projected back for some 60 or 70 yards. In these wings are the bed-rooms of guests, while the centre building contains the drawing-room, dining-room, and sleeping apartments of the host and hostess. Under the verandah of the front portico

t seems surprising that the mode of living adopted by the Dutch in this trying climate does not injure their

ef ingredient, accompanied by soup, fried fish, pork, pickled eggs, sardines, and various kinds of sambals-also little seasoned messes, handed round with the boiled rice, which is eaten at the same time and off the same plat

which I was not sorry for, as it counteracted in some d

fairly trembled for the safety of one small boy, about eight years old, who appeared to swell visibly du

embroidered white linen jacket. The hair is worn loose, and the bare feet are thrust into half slippers embroidered with real gold and silver beads. This dress is worn from early morning till five o'clock in the afternoon, the

arations for the journey thither being complete, we took a stroll the evening of our arrival on the K?nig's Plein.

man encased in long jack-boots, and wearing a sombrero hat, and green hunting-coat! The effect of this get-up was somewhat

s house here is a fine stone building, surrounded by a splendid park and grounds, and many of the merchants in the capital also own villas around. It is not un

h Preanger district. We paid a visit while here to the house of Mr. D., who has resided in Java for thirty years, and who owns a large estate (Koerapan) some eighteen miles out of Buitenzorg. He told us th

of record. In truth a more uninteresting country than this part of the island I ha

tted to view the proceedings. I was not impressed with the Javanese army, for a more wretched, undersized-looking set of men it has seldom been my lot to witness. It is not

uniform did not tend to improve their personal appearance, consisting as it did of a thick blue cloth-tunic, with long skirts, a French kepi, blue trousers, and bar

OF SI

H BOR

in hospital. I afterwards ascertained from the doctor in charge of this building that, thanks to fever, drink,

l for over an hour, and even in that short time thre

on the ground, chewing penang or smoking, as a rule, up till the very last moment. The kris used on such occasions is about sixteen inches long by two broad, and quite straight. Grasping this weapon in both hands, the executioner steps up behind the prisoner, and thrusts it up to the hilt between the left shoulder-blade and neck of the victim. The heart is pierced immediately, and the criminal dies at once painlessly." In Celebes, however, the mode of

Wide Circus had just come from India for a stay of two months in Batavia, and nearly every available bed-room had been taken by them. We succeeded, however, in obtainin

aw so little of the island, and our stay there was so

the 24th in the Messageries S.S. Amazone-a splendid vessel, nearly

Australia for Gibraltar. L. left me at the latter place, returning direct to