"vice-admiral fabius," s.s. 201 



snout to tail, — tremendously fat, and the place they 

 were kept in was wonderfully clean and neat in all its 

 arrangements. 



The other sights of Singapore, such as they might 

 be, I left until after my return from the Malay Islands, 

 whither I was now bound by the little Dutchman, 

 ** Vice- Admiral Fabius," of only 300 tons, like her name- 

 sake of old, progressing at a truly Fabian pace. A 

 wretched boat in every way, as regards speed, comfort, 

 as well as feeding. This I believe was intended to 

 be her last voyage, and fine new steamers were in 

 future to meet the requirements of an increasing traffic, 

 which may benefit me later on. 



We now passed a number of small islands, and 

 through the narrow strait dividing Bin tang and 

 Batam, we came to anchor in the roadstead of Bhio, 

 after which the passage is named. The same splendid 

 vegetation, quite a belt of lofty trees, palms, and 

 ferns, with little villages built on stilts, in some 

 secluded inlet of the coast. A few hours being 

 required here to discharge some merchandise, I went 

 on shore. There were about a dozen European 

 bungalows, and a fort commanding the strait. These 

 islands belong to the Sultan of Linga, whose viceroy 

 resides on the opposite shore. 



On the following morning we crossed the Equator, 



