. THE NORTHWESTERN COAST OF TIMUR. 121 



lias become strong. This coast of Timiu' is not low. 

 like tlie north coast of Java, but rises immediately 

 up from the sea, in a succession of hills. No gigan 

 tic and lofty peaks can be seen, as in Java, and in 

 all the islands east to and including Ombay; the 

 peaks along the water-shed, on Timur, generally 

 rising to not more than four or five thousand feet, 

 and Lakaan, which is regarded as the highest in that 

 chain, is suj^posed to be only six thousand. The soil 

 appears to be very infertile, yet when the sun was 

 approaching the western horizon, and the cumuli, 

 floating in the pure air, slowly drew along their 

 chancring; shadows over the innumerable hills and 

 valleys, the whole scene was nearly as delightful 

 as my first view of the tropics in coming up the 

 Strait of Sunda. There is no road in the interior of 

 the island, and every one who will travel the short- 

 est distance, must go on horseback along the sandy 

 beaches. 



This afternoon we passed Pulo Gula Batu, 

 "Sugar-Loaf Island." It is quite high, with steep, 

 almost perpendicular sides, which have a white, 

 chalky appearance, and appear to be composed of 

 strata of coral rock, which would indicate that it had 

 recently been elevated above the sea. At sunset we 

 entered Ombay Passage, the one that ships from 

 England and America usually choose when going to 

 China in the western monsoon, and frequently when 

 returning in the eastern monsoon. One was just 

 then drifting down into the Indian Ocean, on her 

 homeward voyage. This was the first vessel we had 

 seen since we passed down Ssqyi Strait, and left the 



