VOYAGE TO SAMARANG. 229 



At the last moment, in consequence of heavy rains, I 

 was advised to renounce my intention of travelUng 

 overland to some of the native states I meant to visit, 

 as in all probability the roads would be knee-deep, and 

 the rivers unfordable, and as a steamer was to start 

 on the following morning for Samarang, I was not long 

 in making up my mind, and prepared to go by her. 

 The "Koningin Sophia" a fine new boat of a thousand 

 tons, specially built and well-adapted for the tropics, 

 started at eight a.m. There were not many passengers ; 

 and although we encountered several tremendous gusts 

 of wind accompanied by heavy rain, the voyage was a 

 very pleasant one. Even their extraordinary rice messes 

 I began to appreciate, but T confess the Dutch people 

 astonished me with their appetites. 



At Cheribon and at Tagal, whence we had a fine 

 view of the Slamat volcano, 10,500 feet high, we 

 stopped for a few hours to land and embark cargo. 

 This part of the coast, however, being very unhealthy, 

 I did not leave the ship, and late in the afternoon of 

 the following day we reached the open and dangerous 

 roadstead of Samarang. The landing, by means of a 

 small steam tender, up a muddy estuary was with 

 difficulty, but at last successfully accomplished, and 

 the " Heerenlogemente " condescended to house me for 

 the night. 



