NATURALIST'S WANDEEINGS 



IN THE 



EASTEKN ARCHIPELAGO. 



CHAPTEK I. 



IN BATAVIA AND BUITENZOEG, 



Arrival in Batavia — First impressions — Buiteuzorg and its Botanical 



Gardens. 



On the Sth October, 1878, I embarked at Southampton on 

 board the Koyal Dutch ]\rail steamer Celebes, for Batavia, 

 on a long-dreamt of visit to the tropical regions of the globe. 

 There is little of interest or novelty to record nowadays of a 

 voyaf>"e to the East. The most stay-at-home is familiar with 



this ocean highway. 



The home-come traveller, however, will be pleased to be 



reminded of that pleasant picture nestling between the 



Burlings and the Arabida hills— the stupendous and useless 



convent of Mafra, the sharp turrets and bristling peaks of 



Ointra, and the flashing towers and white buildings of Lisbon. 



risine: from the banks of the river. Notwithstanding all I 



had read of Wallace and of Bates, I was j^oiiig out full of 



extravagant ideas of tropical blossoms; and had little idea, 

 as I rounded the cape of Gibraltar, leaving to the north of 

 me purple hills of heather, scarlet fields of poppies, and rich 

 parterres starred with cistus and orchids, with anemones 

 and geraniums, and sweet with aromatic shrubs and herbs, 

 that i would encounter nothing half so rich or bright amid 





all the profusion of the " summer of the world. 



• It will please him to have recalled the Straits of 3Iessina, 



