CHAPTER VII. 



SUMBAWA. 



Arrive at Batavia — Cholera again — Lombok Peak — Anchor in Sumbawa Baj' — 

 Parched aspect of the country — Sumbawan huts — Trade in ponies — "We start 

 for the capital — The natives — Spears and krisses — Characteristics of the vegeta- 

 tion — Birds — Prevalence of Australian forms — The town of Sumbawa — Bichara 

 with the Tungku Jirewi — The Istana — The Sultan of Sumbawa — Leave Sumbawa 

 Bay — Labuan Penakan — -The Tambora volcano — Its eruption in 1815 — Arrive at 

 Bima — Languages of the island — A six months' drought — Tombs of the Sultans 

 of Bima — Gunong Api Island — New species of quail — Leave Sumbawa for 

 Celebes. 



We picked up our mails and took in stores at Singapore, and on 

 the 26th of July sailed for Batavia. Passing through the Ehio and 

 Banka Straits, and threading our way between myriads of islands 

 of all sizes, we found ourselves at length in the Java Sea, and early 

 on the morning of the fourth day came to anchor in Batavia roads. 

 We were the bearers of letters of introduction to H.E. the 

 Governor General of the Netherlands India, a post from which 

 our Viceroy of India only differs in the lesser amount of ceremonial 

 attending him, and our chief, if not sole reason for \dsiting Java 

 was to present them. Our future route lay entirely in Dutch 

 waters, and without letters from the authorities we should 

 doubtless have found the way less smooth. The Governor General 

 was kind enough to furnish us with a general letter, requesting 

 any Dutch Kesidents or Kontroleurs with whom we might be 

 brought m contact to assist us. An order to supply us with any 

 coal we might need from the various naval coal depots was also 



