Cordial Reception, — Visit the Museum. 1 83 



we happened to meet the day of our arrival, informed us that 

 in Macassar the entii*e population had been for several months 

 past looking for the arrival of the foreign man-of-war, and 

 those on the look-out at the signal-station, as often as a large 

 ship made its appearance on the horizon, were continually 

 hoping that it might prove to be the long-expected visitor. 



All that the resources of a mighty and generous power, 

 such as is that of Holland in Java, could fm^iish to make our 

 short stay at the island as agreeable and instructive as 

 possible was exhibited on the most lavish scale, and all that 

 could be done to promote our objects in view by men of 

 science, of which Java possesses a considerable number, and 

 even some of Em'opean celebrity, was offered with the most 

 praiseworthy alacrity. Several eminent scholars and natur- 

 alists, headed by the renowned ichthyologist, Dr. Bleeker, 

 who shortly before had been decorated with an Austrian 

 order of merit for his valuable contributions to our knowledge 

 of the natural history of the Sunda Islands, did the honours, 

 so to speak, for the members of the scientific commission, of 

 whom they became the constant companions. 



The very day we landed we visited the Museum, in the 

 company of our new friends, where we found an extremely 

 interesting and most valuable collection, principally of ethno- 

 graphic objects. Here we saw idols of the palmy days of 

 Buddhism, made of bronze and silver, beautifully carved, 

 which came from the interior of Java, as also from Sumatra 

 and the Engano Islands; clothes of the bark of trees, gar- 



