106 



GEOGRAPHICAL NOTES IN MALAYSIA AND ASIA, 



in the early morning, reminds one of a European summer. The 

 place is a military station. There are barracks and a large training- 

 school for recruits. Each morning from 6 to 9 o'clock about 800 

 men are drilled on the esplanade in front of the hotel, and this, 

 with the practice on bugles and drums close by, makes it rather 

 noisy for invalids. Most of the soldiers are natives. There 

 is a languour about their movements, which, with their faded blue 

 canvas uniforms, makes them anything hut smart in appearance. 



The suburbs of Malang consist of the Chinese quarter w ith 

 plenty of shops and narrow streets. The rest is taken up in 

 handsome European villas with tasteful flower gardens or shrub- 

 beries. They say that the town is very lively, as there are so 

 many officers and civilians quartered there ; but as a rule, English 

 people will not find themselves received with open arms. I am 

 afraid that the Dutch think we only come to criticise, and they 

 are very sensitive about our criticisms. 



We hsd to wait a day or so at Malang while arrangements were 

 made for the ponies and guides to take us up to Brotno. As far 

 as the hotel on the mountain of Tosari, we were told that there 

 would not be much difficulty. Beyond that we could not get 

 certain information. But all over the world there is a tendency 

 to magnify the difficulties of such journeys. The fact was that 

 any ordinary bush journey in Australia would be as arduous as 

 getting to the foot of Bromo. Being in a strange country, with 

 people speaking an unknown language, made the only real 

 inconvenience beyond the fatigue. In all other respects life and 

 property are as safe in Java as in any country of the world.. The 

 interim of waiting was taken up in driving about the country. 

 The roads are very beautiful. The scenery, made up as it is by 

 various views of the smoking peak of Arjuuo and the rugged 

 summits of Kawi was picturesque in a way that no short description 

 could convey. All the intermediate valleys and plains were 

 chequered by the different kinds of crops, of which rice was 

 the principal. Large clumps of palm and other shade trees, with 

 attap roofs showing here and there, were plentifully scattered 



