MARSEILLES TO SINGAPORE 21 



Java, and Johore were all contemplated and fully 

 discussed, and even a projected cruise to the South 

 Sea Islands was abandoned only when negotiations 

 for chartering a schooner fell through, just as we 

 seemed on the point of making an excellent bargain. 

 Meanwhile we gleaned much information of a good, 

 bad, and indifferent nature from various residents 

 and officials, and by taking cross-country runs every 

 evening after the heat of the day, put ourselves into 

 the best of physical condition for the hard work 

 which in any case was to lie ahead. 



The solution of the problem where we should go 

 was finally arrived at only by our agreeing to take 

 the first ship which should leave Singapore bound 

 in any direction. This proved to be the Italian 

 steamer Capri, scheduled to sail, within half an 

 hour of our decision, for Penang, whence the rail- 

 road leads into the interior of the Malay Peninsula ; 

 and with no further ceremony than hurriedly to 

 throw our jungle kit into canvas bags and dash in 

 gharries to the wharf, we caught the ship by a flying 

 leap from the dock as she was pulling out into the 

 harbor. 



