10 TIIROrCH CFNTRAI, HORXKO 



have reached power and influence here, but also the Ma- 

 lays, natives of India, Arabs, etc. The Chinese rickshaw 

 men here are of superb physique, and the excellence of 

 the service renders this the most agreeable method of 

 getting about. Moreover, it is a pleasure to watch their 

 athletic movements and long easy stride, as if they were 

 half flying. Some of them pass the carriages. They are 

 jolly, like big children, and are natural teetotalers, but 

 they sometimes fight about money among themselves. 



After securing a Chinese photographer and a trained 

 native collector of zoological specimens, I embarked in 

 the excellent Dutch steamer Rur?iphius for Batavia where 

 I arrived on the loth of November. The first thing to 

 be done was to ask an audience of the Governor-General 

 of Netherlands India, who usually stays at Buitenzorg, 

 the site of the world-famous botanical gardens. It is 

 an hour's trip by express from Batavia, and although only 

 265 metres higher, has a much pleasanter climate. The 

 palace, which is within tlic botanical gardens, has an un- 

 usually attractive situation, and the interior is light, cool, 

 and stately. His excellency, A. \\'. F. Idenburg, most 

 courteously gave the necessary orders for the furtherance 

 of my proposed expedition to New Guinea, and as it was 

 necessary for me to go first to Dutch Borneo, to secure a 

 Dayak crew, he provided me with an introduction to the 

 Resident of the South and Eastern Division. 



During the few days I stayed in Buitenzorg, the bo- 

 tanical gardens were a source of ever new dilight. It u.is 

 in the latter half of November and tluis will inti) the rainy 

 season. Usually showers came every afternoon, but the 



