164 A COLLECTING TRIP 
we have a fine state room; the food is splendid and 
she is fairly clean for a French boat, although I do 
not think they ever bother to wash down the decks, 
which they do twice a day on the Dutch boats — but 
then the Dutch are real sailors. It is late in the 
season and few people are going to Saigon; the Eng- 
lish boats were crowded and as none but this line 
stopped in Cochin China we took this. I believe Saigon 
is a very beautiful and interesting place, although 
frightfully hot and damp. Our time in Singapore 
passed quickly, for, although we had warm weather, 
the nights were cool and we had far better acecommoda- 
tions at a far better hotel than when we were in 
Singapore before during the tourist season. I never 
saw so many ships and steamers in any harbor in my 
life; it was a great sight. We met Dr. Abbott, an 
American, who has been collecting about these waters 
for the Smithsonian in his yacht for very many years. 
He was very interesting and asked us on board; we 
saw his laboratory, ete. It is a very comfortable 
little schooner. A great fad — for the Smithsonian. 
He hopes to get out to New Guinea some day and was 
very interested in our pictures. 
Well, here endeth the news, if such this letter 
can be said to contain. 
Good bye; love to all; we have had no mail for 
nearly three months. Will be glad to find some — in 
Hong Kong, we hope. 
Tom. 
