2,76 Voyage of the Novara. 



appearance of a concert-room tlian a regular theatre. The 

 rather heavy cost was defrayed by lotteries, which were set 

 on foot by the Colonial Government from time to time for 

 the behoof of the funds of the theatre. Several of the 

 *' cantatrices " carry on simultaneously with their engage- 

 ments a lucrative business in French articles for the toilette, 

 while the men-singers give instruction in vocalization, by 

 which they not merely eke out their living, but contribute 

 handsomely to the annoyance of their next-door neighbours. 



There is but little sociability in Batavia. The people live 

 in a thoroughly retired manner, each usually receiving only a 

 small circle of friends in his own house. On this point, as 

 on many others, our own experience is directly contrary to the 

 actual state of matters, seeing that during our entire stay 

 one invitation followed on the heels of another ; — but those 

 who live here for years together, even under the most favour- 

 able auspices, have repeatedly assured us that life in Batavia 

 is unsociable and tedious. 



This is the misfortune of all countries ''beyond sea," 

 where Europeans do not settle permanently, but flock thither 

 with the intention, after a certain number of years of 

 industry and activity, of returning home with a fortune made 

 by their own personal exertions. We see this in Brazil, in 

 the West Indies, in the Western coast of South America ; in a 

 word, in all tropical or sub-tropical countries where, on 

 account of climatic considerations, the greater part of the 

 European population is changed every ten years, and is 



