of an Orchid Hunter. 



v)J> 



la passing the Dutch ensign which floats from the 

 top of the fort, the captain of the Phantom, in pur- 

 suance of certain laws of maritime etiquette, politely 

 dipped the Union Jack three times in the water, 

 a compliment which was as politely returned by the 

 Dutchmen answering the salutation in the same form. 

 The harbour, although presenting a most gay and 

 busy appearance, is somewhat small and cramped, 

 and it was with considerable exertion that our 

 little Phantom was brought near enough to the 

 quay to do business. The principal parts of 

 the town are built on each side of the narrow 

 harbour ; besides this, a kind of canal branches off 

 into the other parts of the town, cutting the streets 

 at right angles. The harbour as well as the canal 

 is crowded with small boats for the convenience of 

 passengers who are obliged to be crossing and re- 

 crossing from one street to another. These boats, 

 generally a kind of punt, are a most primitive cockle- 

 shell contrivance, which, however, at one time may 

 have been a Dutch patent. They are perfectly 

 flat-bottomed, and not more than a foot and a half 

 deep, reminding one very forcibly by their general 

 appearance of a large drinking-trough. The mode 

 of propelling them is scarcely less comical than the 

 craft itself. The oarsman takes up his position 

 standing in the stem of the boat, with a piece of 



D 



