346 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



Leave Sydney — Rottenes Island — Colonial prospects — 

 Voyage to Batavia — Prince's Island — The Java coast — An- 

 chor in Batavia roads — The river — Alligators — Streets of 

 Batavia — M. Choulan's tavern — Forests — Java ponies — A 

 veterinary monkey — Public buildings — The traveller's tree 

 — Celebrated Javanese chief — Sketch of his life and ac- 

 tions — Exactions of the Dutch government — The orang- 

 utan — Society in Batavia — Animals of Java — Doves — 

 Dried specimen of the hippocampus. 



On the 14th of March I left Sydney, in the ship 

 " Sir Thomas Munro," for Batavia, taking the 

 southern passage, the winds obliged us to pass 

 round Van Dieman's Land. On the 22nd, 

 " Schouten's Island" was seen bearing west by 

 south, and " St. Patrick's Head," north-west by 

 compass, about twenty-five miles distant ; and 

 on the 23rd, Cape Pillar bore west by south- 

 half-south ; and " Maria Island" north by west- 

 half- west by compass ; distant about thirty miles. 

 We had to beat against strong westerly winds ; 

 and at noon, of the 22nd of April, D'Entrecas- 

 teaux Point bore east by north, distant about 



