THE NORTUnXSTERX COAST OF TIMUE. 121 



lias become stroog. This coast of Timur is not low. 

 like tlxe north coast of Java, but rises ioimediately 

 up from the sea, in a succession of hills. No gigan 

 tie and lofty peaks can be seen, as in Java, and in 

 all the islands east to and including Ombay; the 

 peaks along the water-shed, on Timur, generally 

 rising to not more than foui' or five thousand feet, 

 and Lakaan, which is regarded as the highest in that 

 chain, is supposed to be only six thousand. The soil 

 appears to be very infertile, yet when the sun was 

 approaching the western horizon, and the cumuli, 

 ftoating in the pui'e air, slowly drew along their 

 changing shadows over the innumerable hUls and 

 valleys, the whole scene was nearly as delightful 

 as my first view of the tropics in coming up the 

 Strait of Sunda There is no road in the interior of 

 the island, and every one wJio will travel the shoit- 

 est distance, must go on horseback along the sandy 

 beaches. 



This afternoon we passed Pulo Gula Batu, 

 "Sugar-Loaf Island." It is quite high, with steep, 

 almost pei"pendicular sides, whicb have a white, 

 cbalky appearance, and appear to be composed of 

 strata of coral rock, which would indicate tbat it ha^I 

 recently been elevated above tbe sea At sunset we 

 entered Ombay Passage, the one that ships from 

 "England and America usually choose when going to 

 China in the western monsoon, and frequently when 

 returning in the eastern monsoon. One was just 

 then diifting down into the Indian Ocean, on her 

 homeward voyage. Tliis was the first vessel we had 

 seen since we passed down Sapi Strait, and left tlie 



