142 king of Holland's birthday. 



anatifa. Mr. Lane, in his edition of the Arabian 

 Nights' Entertainments, when Sindbad mentions 

 this singular fact of natural history as one of the 

 wonders of the Indian seas, is surprised at it, and 

 curious to know whence it could arise. There is 

 no doubt that it is an old Javanese notion, and that 

 the early Arab traders, who frequented Java, carried 

 it thence to Arabia and Egypt. A similar notion 

 existing in the north-west of Europe, however, from 

 still more ancient times, is a " very singular coinci- 

 dence" but only shews how prone the early races of 

 men are to draw the same inferences from similar 

 natural objects and occurrences. The likeness of 

 the byssus in the one case, and the cirrhi in the 

 other, to hair or feathers, no doubt, gave rise to the 

 same strange and marvel-loving exercise of imagi- 

 nation. 



Dec, 6. — This being the King of Holland's birth- 

 day, was celebrated by the firing of salutes, a 

 review of all the troops, and a public ball in the 

 rooms of the Concordia at night. At this, of course, 

 all the beauty and fashion of Sourabaya were assem- 

 bled. Of the former, there was not a very crowded 

 display, but the whole was managed in good style, 

 except what we should consider the solecism of cigar 

 smoking in the vestibule of the ball-room. Several 

 Javanese gentlemen were present in their native 

 dresses, but I did not observe them join any of the 

 dances. 



The Resident of Sourabaya having invited Cap- 



