18 TRAVELS IN THE EAST INDIAN ARCHIPELAGO. 



long lines of cuttle-fisli bones and parts of mysteri- 

 ous fi'iiits where the tides met, that were setting in 

 diiferent directions. 



Nearly all the islands in the strait are steep, 

 volcanic cones, with their bases beneath the sea ; the 

 bright-green foliage on their sides forming an agree- 

 able contrast with the blue ocean at their feet when 

 the waves roll away before a strong breeze ; but 

 when it is calm, and the water reflects the light, as 

 from a polished mirror, they appear like gigantic 

 emeralds set in a sea of silver. 



As we approached Angir, where ships bound 

 to and from China frequently stoj) for fresh provi- 

 sions, we saw, to our great alarm, a steamship ! Was 

 it the pirate Shenandoah, and was our ship to be 

 taken and burnt there, almost at the end of our long 

 voyage ? I must confess that was what we all 

 feared till we came near enough to see the " Stars 

 and Stripes " of the loyal flag of our native land. 



Here many Malays paddled off in their canoes to 

 sell us fruit. We watch the approach of the first 

 boat with a peculiar, indescribable interest. It con- 

 tains two young men, who row. They are dressed 

 in trousers and jackets of calico, with cotton handker- 

 chiefs tied round their heads. This is the usual 

 dress throughout the archipelago, except that, in- 

 stead of the trousers or over them, is worn the sarong^ 

 which is a piece of cotton cloth, two yards long by a 

 yard wide, with the two shorter sides sewn together, 

 so as to make a bag open at the top and bottom. 

 The men draw this on over the body, and gather it 

 on the right hip ; the loose part is then twisted, and 



